Governor Sean Parnell held a press conference with state officials (today) Thursday to discuss the state’s Ebola preparedness plan.
Parnell was joined in Anchorage by Health and Social Services Commissioner Bill Streur, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin and Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Cooper. Parnell said every indication pointed at Alaska being at low risk for Ebola however, he did stress that it was a concern.
“I have set a high bar for preparedness in the state across a whole range of needs and Ebola is certainly one of those areas where we want to raise the bar in preparedness.”
Parnell said the state is preparing the state for the worst case scenario, even though there is little chance of Ebola traveling to Alaska.
“As such I’ve directed the Department of Health and Social Services to take some actions. I’ve directed the commissioner to create a mutli agency Ebola task force to coordinate planning and preparedness efforts among multiple agencies. They’ve already met a few times and I’ve asked weekly briefings for the length of this potential health concern.”
He went on to say that Alaska state hospitals and nursing homes will be represented in the tasks forces. Parnell said the Division of Public Health Section of Epidemiology has been working on several programs to keep Alaska at low risk for Ebola.
SPOT: “One some interagency teleconferences, multi-disciplinary lectures to health care providers in different settings, public health alerts, multiple tv and radio media interviews, frequent telephone and email consultations with stakeholders and they’ve participated in regular teleconferences with the CDC and other states to ensure updated and accurate information.”
Parnell said these precautions help educate the people of the Alaska of the appropriate actions to take if a case of Ebola is found in the state. He went on to say that residents should be particularly cautious when traveling on airplanes and to be sure to get their flu shots this winter—it may not protect against Ebola, but it will keep the immune system strong. For more information on the state’s plan against Ebola, visit the Section of Epidemiology website at www.epi.alaska.gov.