The Ebola case in the U.S. is having an effect on how hospitals in our region are monitoring the disease.

Dr. Colin Lee, the Associated Medical Officer of Health for Simcoe Muskoka, says when it comes to infectious disease there is always a risk but in the case of Ebola it is very small locally.

“We are monitoring it very closely. For the general population I think they should be more concerned for the upcoming flu season and making sure thy get the influenza shot.”

While a confirmed case in the U.S. brings the issue closer to home, Dr. Lee says it doesn’t increase the risk here, it’s just one case.

“This outbreak has been going on for months and yet we’ve only had one case in the states, so I think the risk of someone traveling with it, arriving at our doorstep it is real but it is very low.”

If Ebola were to make its way into our region, staff members at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie say they are prepared and have the resources to care for patients.

“We have screening tools that when patients come into the ER, that we use routinely, but which are also designed to screen for disease like Ebola,” says RVH Chief of Staff Dr. James Shaver.

That screening includes a series of questions to decide whether the patient could be carrying Ebola or another infectious disease. While this is routine care, staff at hospitals is on high alert.

“What’s different about Ebola from our regular state of preparedness is we get regular updates from the government about what the status is and those come several times a week so it heightens the preparedness,” adds Shaver.

Many hospitals, live RVH, are equipped with isolation rooms are negative pressure rooms which allow air in but not out to limit the spread of disease. Dr. Lee says facilities like that, plus recent experiences make Canada well prepared to handle outbreaks.

“I think we are probably the best prepared country because we’ve had the experience of SARS where we’ve had to grapple with even more infectious disease at that time so we’ve put these systems into place over the past ten years so we are definitely prepared.”

Doctors say it’s very difficult to get Ebola; it’s not like getting a cold. You must be in direct contact with a person who has it.

Health officials also say if you have travelled to a country where Ebola is present, you should tell your health care provider right away if you become ill.