Prince George, B.C. – B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, says   there are  no cases of Ebola  in this province,  however,   with the  transmission of the virus to a health care worker  in Texas,  that has caused  Provincial Health  Officers across Canada to review their protocols for handling  patients who have Ebola.

“Our  first priority  will be to familiarize, or re-familiarize  health care workers with  protective  equipment so they can use them with confidence should there be an Ebola case.”

Dr. Kendall is reacting to  concerns expressed by the BC Nurses Union which says Nurses are feeling  scared about  dealing with  ebola patients. “The protocols and equipment work” says  Dr. Kendall but he admits the process for  removal of the protective  gowns  can be tricky,  and there needs to be more effort to  train  the medical staff on  the protocols and equipment  so they  are more confident in the use of the  equipment.

Three people in the lower mainland  have been tested for ebola, but  Dr. Kendall says  none  proved to be positive .

“If we have front line healthcare workers who don’t feel adequately prepared, then we need to  address that.”

Although the likelihood of  a person  presenting  with ebola at a rural hospital outside the lower mainland is  low, Dr. Kendall says  every hospital and healthcare facility needs to  be prepared to  deal with a  patient in isolation  in the  event  such a person  does attend their emergency room or medical clinic.