BROOKLYN — Well before the first patient presented with Ebola symptoms in the U.S., the Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) was convening their public health system partners and preparing for the possibility of the virus coming to America.

NDDH is organizing a “Community Conversation” to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Quinebaug Valley Community College auditorium for residents and community partners interested in receiving more information on Ebola and Enterovirus D68, a respiratory illness affecting primarily children. 

Panelists representing NDDH, DKH, Generations Family Health Center, local Emergency Medical Services, and schools will discuss their preparedness activities and be available to answer questions.

“Public health has a long history of preventing the spread of disease by working with those who are ill and identifying other individuals with whom they have been in contact,” said Susan Starkey, NDDH director of Health. “Most people don’t realize that public health is always working behind the scenes in similar ways investigating cases of foodborne illness, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases. Even though Ebola is new to us, the tools we have in our toolkit are well-developed and utilized effectively.”

NDDH staff has been participating in regular planning meetings, conference calls with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is working with local preparedness partners. Starkey and her staff have also disseminated information through local media, and have met with judicial authorities, school nurses, and planning partners at Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH).

“It’s important for people to know that the risk of Ebola exposure in northeast Connecticut is extremely low. Flu is the infectious disease of primary concern every fall, winter and spring because it can lead to severe illness and death,” said Starkey. “This year NDDH will redouble our efforts to get people immunized against the flu because the concern is that people who get the flu will worry that they have Ebola and overwhelm the healthcare system. We want people to be healthy and stay out of emergency rooms.”

According to Starkey, information is continually received as the Ebola situation evolves. At this time, NDDH’s primary role is to evaluate resources and protocols to assure a coordinated response if needed, and as always to provide community education. Should there be a suspected Ebola case, NDDH would work closely with CT DPH, CDC and local health care providers. Current plans include having NDDH staff play a role in telephone-based temperature monitoring of any quarantined individuals.

She added, “The best thing people can do is stay healthy. If they follow all the advice we regularly provide, they will be well prepared to avoid infectious diseases including Ebola disease. Everyone can help prevent the spread of disease if they wash their hands frequently; cover coughs; avoid touching their mouth, nose, and eyes; avoid others when sick; and get vaccinated against the flu.”