Bullock announces Ebola potocols for Montana

Gov. Steve Bullock announced Oct. 31 the adoption of new state health agency protocols for Montanans who have returned from Ebola-affected regions in western Africa, or who may have come in contact with a person infected with the virus.

“These new protocols will help ensure the safety of those potentially exposed to Ebola and the safety of Montanans as a whole,” Bullock said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informs Montana officials of the names of all passengers who return to Montana from Ebola-affected regions in western Africa or who have had contact with an Ebola-infected individual.

Once Montana officials are notified, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services coordinates with local public health departments to ensure all returning travelers receive daily monitoring.

Individuals who had known exposure to the virus will require direct active monitoring by public health officials, including a twice-daily review of symptoms and observation of the individual checking their temperature. Monitoring also will include discussion of plans to work, travel or visit public places and determining whether these activities are permitted.

While these protocols are the current best practices, the protocols will evolve as new information is received to reflect a better understanding of how to most effectively treat and monitor individuals who may have been exposed.

Dick Brown, president and CEO of MHA (formerly the Montana Hospital Association), noted that with national media attention on this disease, it is understandable that Montanans are concerned about the spread of Ebola.

“However, with the talented and trained public health officials and hospital staff in this state, along with Gov. Bullock’s protocols for monitoring those at highest risk, residents should rest easy knowing that Montana is taking proactive steps to prevent this virus in the state,” he said.

Lewis and Clark County Health Officer Melanie Reynolds noted that it’s important that the public has confidence that health officials have a rigorous plan to prevent the spread of Ebola if it enters the state.

“These protocols will ensure that those at highest-risk of contracting the virus are quickly identified and if necessary, treatment is effectively administered to eliminate the risk of further infections,” she said.

Montana Nurses Association executive director Vicky Byrd noted that her organization and their national affiliate, the American Nurses Association, support these protocols.

“They provide important guidance based on the best available scientific evidence and provide essential information to health care professionals as well as Montanans returning from affected regions,” she said. “These protocols provide the guidelines appropriately monitor individuals who may have been exposed to or have had direct contact with a symptomatic person diagnosed with Ebola. This guidance clarifies the appropriate limitation to travel and presence in public places based on the level of risk that individual poses to the public These protocols also take into account the rural nature of our state, and provide appropriate steps for accommodating those who live a great distance from their nearest hospital or health facility.”

Earlier this month, Bullock established a command team to coordinate Ebola- preparedness activities in the state. The team is led by Major General Matt Quinn, who oversees emergency preparedness for the state.

Along with experts from DPHHS in public health and communicable disease, team members include Maj. Gen. Matt Quinn, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard; Richard Opper, director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services; Brad Livingston, administrator of Disaster and Emergency Services; Tracy Stone-Manning, director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality; Mike Tooley, director of the Montana Department of Transportation; and Jason Smith, director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs.

“I’ve tasked these experts with creating, and now maintaining, a reasonable and effective approach to Ebola preparedness in Montana,” Bullock said. “I have every confidence that this team will do everything possible to ensure Montana is prepared in the unlikely event that a case of Ebola appears in Montana.”

The command team has been charged with maintaining an Ebola-specific incident response plan, ensuring ongoing coordination of inter-agency and inter-governmental activities, and providing ongoing briefings to the governor and other officials on preparedness activities.

For more information on the new monitoring protocols, visit online at www.dphhs.mt.gov and click on the Ebola link, or contact local public health departments.