What you need to know about Ebola
Three Tiers of Facilities for Care of Potential or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease Patients
Since November 21, British Columbia has adopted a Three Tier model for providing care to potential or confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients, with specific roles for facilities at each Tier.
This model includes the designation of two provincial Tier Three facilities for the care of confirmed (1) or probable (2) clinical EVD cases and is based on the expectation that transfers can be accomplished (weather permitting, with air transport capacity expected in the near term).
The provincial facilities designated as Tier Three, are Surrey Memorial Hospital (for adults) and BC Children's Hospital (for children).
(1) A confirmed EVD case is a person with laboratory confirmation of EVD infection.
(2) A probable EVD case is a person with symptoms compatible with EVD, with at least one high-risk exposure in the 21 days before symptom onset.
Please refer to the Provincial Health Officer's website for details regarding facility Tiers and roles.
In response to concerns expressed by many HSA members, the union is pressing the province and health employers to do a better job of providing hands on training for workers and to improve communication and coordination on processes and protocols for dealing with suspected Ebola cases. The HSA is participating in weekly Ebola conference calls co-chaired by BC Provincial Health Officer, Perry Kendall and Assistant Deputy Health Minister Ted Patterson, which provides an ability to raise HSA membership concerns directly with those in charge of Ebola preparedness.
Recently updated Ebola resources:
- Provincial Health Officer's Ebola Web-Site for B.C. Health Care Providers - updated with new EVD Risk Assessment Algorithm (December 9, 2014).
- Policy Communique - PPE Guidelines for Ebola Virus Disease (October 29, 2014)
- Ebola Update: Guidance for clinical staff in primary care, including family physicians' offices, urgent care centres and walk-in clinics. (includes BC Regional Medical Health Officer contact numbers)
- Government of Canada: Ebola Virus Disease – Health Professionals
Ebola information from BC Health Authorities:
- First Nations Health Authority: Ebola What you need to know
- Fraser Health: Ebola
- Fraser Health: Ebola Information for Healthcare Employees and Contactors
- Interior Health: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
- Island Health: Ebola Virus Disease
- Northern Health: West African Ebola Outbreak
- Provincial Health Services Authority: Ebola Preparedness
- Vancouver Coastal Health: The facts about Ebola
- Northern Health: West African Ebola Outbreak
Other resources:
BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)
Government of Canada
For information about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, including causes, symptoms, risks, treatment, prevention and surveillance or to read the Government of Canada news release about Ebola vaccine trials:
World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, including monitoring and assessing health issues such as Ebola, providing technical support to countries, and setting norms and standards.
See: WHO fact sheet on Ebola virus disease.
The US Center for Disease Control has published fact sheets on hospital preparedness.
WorkSafeBC 's manual, "Controlling Exposure: Protecting Workers From Infectious Disease", is another valuable resource.
Please check the HSA website regularly and make sure to follow us on Facebook and twitter. We will post the most current information available.