Ebola is a very severe infectious and life-threatening disease characterized by fever and internal bleeding.
Other symptoms that are present during the early stages of the disease are muscle weakness and soreness, headache and sore throat.
An Ebola outbreak in Africa has killed more than 1,000 people and made international headlines. You may also remember the two Americans working in Africa who came down with the virus and were brought to the United States for treatment.
How are emergency rooms in America preparing for a disease of this severity and potential magnitude?
The possibility of Ebola spreading throughout the country is unlikely, but not unfounded. There are several standard precautions, such as contact, airborne and isolation drills, that emergency rooms are utilizing; just in case Ebola was to become widespread in the U.S.
Fortunately, the Ebola virus is not airborne; it is only transmitted via direct contact with -- or secretion of -- bodily fluids. This means it is not easily transmittable.
What else do you need to know about Ebola?
Rade B. Vukmir, MD, shares the dangerous information on Ebola, signs and symptoms of Ebola and what you need to know about the potential risk of Ebola spreading globally.
Ebola Primer: How ERs Are Preparing
Ebola is one of the most deadly viruses in existence, with a fatality rate close to 90 percent.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 1
- Audio File: ER_101/1433er5a.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Rade Vukmir, MD, JD
- Guest Website: American College of Emergency Physicians
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Guest Bio:
Rade B. Vukmir, MD, JD, FCCP, FACEP, FACHE, is Chief Clinical Officer for National Guardian Risk Retention Group. Dr. Vukmir is the Chairman of ECI's Education and Risk Management Department. He holds an academic appointment as Professor (Adjunct) of Emergency Medicine at Temple University.
He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Dr. Vukmir received medical and legal degrees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.
He completed a residency program in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, a clinical fellowship in Critical Care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and a research fellowship in Resuscitation at the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research.
He is a certified instructor of Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and the Fundamentals of Critical Care Support.
Dr. Vukmir also a degree in Law with a certificate in Health Law. Current interests include management of medicolegal risk, operations, efficiency, management, and optimal customer service strategies.
He is the author of 42, peer-reviewed medical journal articles, as well as seven books. He is the recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Affiliated Residency and Emergency Medicine Faculty Excellence Award for 1991 and 1992.
Dr. Vukmir is the founder of the ACEP Critical Care Medicine Section, and has served as Councilor, Medicolegal Committee and Public Relations Committee. He currently serves as an ACEP spokesperson. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: No
- Host: Leigh Vinocur, MD
Published in
The Dr. Leigh Vinocur Show
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