Dear Healthcare Providers and Colleagues:
Please find attached and distribute as appropriate a Health Alert Notification about the current Ebola Virus Disease situation in Africa, CDC guidance recommendations concerning Ebola, and information on how to assess and report potential cases of ebola virus disease (EVD) in Kentucky.
EVD exposure is not considered a high risk in the United States at this time due to the small number of cases seen so far in both outbreaks in Africa. However, diseases such as EVD, dengue fever, and malaria are only a plane ride away at any time. Being prepared for the possibility and diligent to ask every patient at a healthcare facility about travel history, in the context of symptoms, is critical in identifying possible illnesses of concern that might come from outside of Kentucky.
Thank you for your attention to this in your practice and for all that you are doing for the citizens of Kentucky.
Doug
Doug Thoroughman, PhD, MS
State Epidemiologist (Acting)
CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer
Kentucky Department for Public Health
275 E. Main St., HS 2GW-C
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-3418 x4315
Fax: 502-564-9626