The CDC recently updated their guidance on working with potential and/ or infected patients in USA hospitals on 8/19.
Of interest to me anyway, is the following:
Avoid contamination of reusable porous surfaces that cannot be made single use. Use only a mattress and pillow with plastic or other covering that fluids cannot get through. Do not place patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection in carpeted rooms and remove all upholstered furniture and decorative curtains from patient rooms before use.
This is due to the fact that: "Limited laboratory studies under favorable conditions indicate that Ebola virus can remain viable on solid surfaces, with concentrations falling slowly over several days"
It should be noted that they don't know much about environmental transmission by Ebola, beyond that.
"To reduce exposure among staff to potentially contaminated textiles (cloth products) while laundering, discard all linens, non-fluid-impermeable pillows or mattresses, and textile privacy curtains as a regulated medical waste."
Please Note- it is reasonable to believe that using those "reusable" masks is extremely unwise. Disposables only, IMO
Of particular importance,"Only one laboratory study, which was done under environmental conditions that favor virus persistence, has been reported. This study found that under these ideal conditions Ebola virus could remain active for up to six days.1 In a follow up study, Ebola virus was found, relative to other enveloped viruses, to be quite sensitive to inactivation by ultraviolet light and drying; yet sub-populations did persist in organic debris."
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link to www.cdc.gov]
FOLKS - If you know anyone employed by a medical waste contractor, please remind them of the Ebola virus. Perhaps by now these contractors know, if not, remind them to use caution and share what they know.
Last Edited by Queen of Eight on 08/20/2014 07:19 PM
United States