With cases of the Ebola virus now in the United States, the University’s Student Health Center is taking preventative measures and setting guidelines in case the disease travels to Baton Rouge, SHC medical doctor Nelson Perret said in an email.
Perret wrote that health care providers will review and refine the Ebola contact procedure Oct. 15 before the University and the Student Health Center announce their plans of action. He expects the procedure to be vocalized to the student body within the coming weeks.
According to the CDC’s website, the 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in recorded history. WebMD has reported a two to 21 day survival rate for those infected with the disease, a period as long as the weeks the University will hold class until the start of Thanksgiving break.
Though it has not been confirmed whether the disease is airborne, it has affected large portions of West Africa and — after a travel-associated case was diagnosed Sept. 30 in Dallas, Texas — prompted uncertainty and concern across the nation, particularly in the states surrounding Texas.
Petroleum engineering junior Caitlin Lawrence said she is not as concerned about contracting the virus as other people seem to be because it has not yet affected her.
“I have hope for governmental measures to prevent the spreading of Ebola,” Lawrence said. “Although there have not been reports of the disease contaminating a large number of people in or outside the Dallas area, I think there needs to be a specific plan of action — a ‘just in case’ plan — if the virus does begin to spread in the U.S.”
Lawrence said she only fears that people in the early stages of contracting the disease who show few symptoms will continue to come to the U.S. and infect more people.
“This could be a huge crisis for us if preventative measures are not increased beforehand,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence also said she hopes the University will take the necessary steps in helping its students avoid contact with Ebola.
“The University should cancel school or encourage people to stay home while the situation gets handled by hospital facilities and trained personnel, but, of course, that’s a judgment call for them to make,” she said.