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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 9, 2014 | 4 Halton hospitals remain on high alert for Ebola by Rachael Williams Metroland West Media Big plans for your small business? TD Business Banking Specialists are here to help. If you're looking for help to grow your business, let our Business Banking Specialists offer you solutions tailored to your needs. We're open earlier, later, and even on Sundays;1 so we're ready whenever there's a convenient time for you. Michael Burch Small Business Advisor 905-845-7181, ext. 300 michael.burch@td.com 282 Lakeshore Rd. E. Oakville Thomas Savoy Small Business Advisor 905-845-6621, ext. 300 thomas.savoy@td.com 321 Iroquois Shore Rd. Oakville Dale Deblois Small Business Advisor 905-827-1107, ext. 300 dale.deblois@td.com South Oakville Centre 1515 Rebecca St., Oakville Prabhjot Gill Small Business Advisor 905-847-5454, ext. 300 prabhjot.gill@td.com 2221 Lakeshore Rd. W. Oakville With recent reports of the deadly Ebola disease inching closer to Canada, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) is taking precautions to prevent the spread of infection. On Friday, HHS confirmed news of the fatal disease reaching the United States has put healthcare providers on high alert. The Public Health Agency of Canada has requested heightened surveillance for patients who have recently travelled to the affected western African countries. Necessary protocols, including isolation, testing and control practices, have been in place since July. "All Canadian hospitals are on high alert for patients with signs and symptoms of Ebola whose travel history includes the affected African countries within the past 21 days of the onset of their symptoms," said Dr. Neil Rau, HHS infectious diseases specialist. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) website, the virus is concentrated in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The heightened precautions are the result of a recent diagnosis of Ebola in Dallas, Texas. Thomas Eric Duncan, a 42-year-old resident of Liberia, was diagnosed on Sept. 30 after coming in contact with the virus in Africa and then flying to the U.S. to visit family. Recent reports from a Dr. Neil Rau number of American news outlets say rougly 100 people in Dallas have been in contact with Duncan, a handful of whom are being monitored. A Toronto hospital is also testing a patient who recently returned from West Africa with a fever. In the case of an incident reported in Halton, Rau said "any suspected patient is immediately isolated, the proper protocols are put in place for specimen testing and the proper health authorities including the Public Health Agency of Canada would be notified." The WHO's most updated figures say the disease has killed 3,338 people, with 7,178 reported incidents. One week prior, these numbers were 3,091 and 6,574, respectively. Rau confirmed there were no cases of Ebola in Canada and that the risk of importation remained low. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through humanto-human transmission. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding. Once infected, symptoms take two to 21 days to appear. There's presently no cure for the Ebola virus and the fatality rate is 50 per cent. Halton Region's Health Department, along with the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care and Public Health Ontario (PHO), are also monitoring the EVD situation. "PHO continues to update its guidance for public health units, health workers and health sector employers on its EVD website at www. publichealthontario.ca/ebola," stated a press release issued on Sept. 5. The Health Department said its position regarding EVD hasn't changed since that date. Its resources for healthcare professionals are updated regularly. All suspected or confirmed cases are asked to be reported to the Health Department by dialling 311, or calling 905825-6000 or toll-free at 1-866442-5866. For general information, visit www.halton.ca/physicians. - with files from John Bkila inside today's Spotlight Arts Health Beaver www.insideHALTON.com 6 30 33 Beaver Trails Sports Classified 32 34 39 For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online at www.oakvillebeaver.com 1 Pharmasave Drugs, Metro, Listen Up Canada, Gino's Pizza, Best Buy, M&M Meats, RMP Athletic Locker, Allstate Insurance, Active Green and Ross, Palma Pasta, Rexall, Reitman's, Bath Depot, Rona, Corbeil, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Lowes, Mrs. Green's, Harvey's, Michael-Angelo's, Food Basics, Hollis Wealth, Square One Shopping Centre, Hudson's Bay Co., National Sports, Home Outfitters, Pharma Plus, Fortinos, Clera Windows & Doors, Kohl & Firsch, Globo Shoes, Bouclair, Centennial Windows, Toys R Us, Linen Chest, Mark's Work Wearhouse, Michael's, Shoppers Drug Mart, PetSmart, Target, Sears, Canadian Tire, Future Shop, The Brick, Brick Mattress, Frescho, Walmart, Sobeys *All flyers not necessarily delivered to all homes Individual branch hours vary. 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