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Local officials seek to ease Ebola fears

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Ebola cases in the United States (Courtesy graphic Google)

As cities and hospitals nationwide gird for a possible Ebola threat, Rochester officials and local hospitals are said to be fully capable of safely handling any infected patients.

"We've been on conference calls with state and federal DHHS officials and CDC officials on protocols in place if any outbreak were to occur," said Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean on Thursday.

Jean said the city, city health officials and local hospital staff have isolation drills that resemble Ebola protocols on a regular basis.

"We practice containment drills" as a matter-of-course he said. "Part of those drills are for an isolation event to make sure we can contain it."

Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean ... 'city is prepared'

Ever since it was reported a health worker with symptoms of Ebola flew on a commercial airline from Dallas to Ohio several days ago, many feel they are at greater risk for contracting the disease, but a Wentworth Douglass Hospital spokesperson said people should not be overly alarmed yet as most people's risk of infection is minimal.

.Dawn Fernald, director of marketing and public relations at Dover, N.H.'s WDH, said all the CDC protocols are currently in place at WDH and are designed to keep patients, staff and the community safe.

It should be noted that no local hospitals have reported any cases of Ebola.

Fernald said exposure to most people is unlikely as of now as Ebola cannot be transmitted by airborne germs.

She said a person can only be exposed to the virus by direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids such as sweat, blood, saliva or vomit.

Health officials agree the likelihood of contracting Ebola in New Hampshire and Maine is low. You have to be in direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids while they are contagious (displaying symptoms of Ebola). Even if someone has been exposed, symptoms may appear as little as two days, and as many as 21 days, after exposure. The CDC says the average is 8 to 10. days.

Ebola symptoms include, Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F), Severe headache, Muscle pain, Weakness, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Abdominal (stomach) pain and Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising).

Several calls to health officials at Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford, Maine, and Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester on Thursday still had not been returned as of this report's release.

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