The outbreak of the Ebola virus is an unprecedented health situation for the United States due to the severity of the disease, even though officials have said there is an extremely low likelihood of contracting Ebola unless there is direct and unprotected contact with the bodily fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola. We want to make sure that all employees and customers of NATSB are safe and protected.
From this time forward:
● PROTECTIVE GLOVES NEED TO BE WORN WHILE DOING DRUG TESTING
● Wipe down all surfaces with a disinfectant wipe, while wearing gloves, after each test.
● Protective gloves shall be discarded in the waste receptacle with a lid.
● Protective gloves shall be worn when emptying and disposing the waste from this receptacle.
● Also, frequent hand washing is always good hygiene.
Urine has been identified as a carrier of Ebola but only by “direct contact”. Direct contact means that body fluids (saliva, mucus, vomit, feces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine, and semen) from an infected person (alive or dead) have touched someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth or an open cut, wound, or abrasion. Please use precautions while handling these body fluids.
Q&A about Ebola
1. Q. How is Ebola viruses transmitted?
A. Ebola viruses are transmitted through direct contact with blood or body fluids/substances (e.g., urine, feces, vomit) of an infected person with symptoms or through exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected blood or body fluids.
2. Q. What does “direct contact” mean?
A. Direct contact means that body fluids (saliva, mucus, vomit, feces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine, and semen) from an infected person (alive or dead) have touched someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth or an open cut, wound, or abrasion.
3. Q. Is Ebola transmissible through contact with contaminated surfaces like elevator buttons, stair railings and door knobs?
A. According to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no epidemiologic evidence of Ebolavirus transmission via either the environment that could become contaminated during patient care (e.g., bed rails, door knobs, laundry). However, given the apparent low infectious dose, potential of high virus titers in the blood of ill patients, and disease severity, higher levels of precaution are warranted to reduce the potential risk posed by contaminated surfaces in the patient care environment. In isolated cases, Ebola on dry surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours. If you have any belief that any space has symptomatic people, try to avoid “common touch” areas by using a tissue or handkerchief. Also, wash your hands frequently and have bleach based hand wipes available.
4. Q. Does bleach kill the virus?
A. Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach). Ebola on dry surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.
5. Q. How long does the Ebola virus remain contagious when in contact with an inanimate surface? How long does Ebola live outside the body?
A. Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach). Ebola on dry surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.
6. Q. Should gyms and fitness centers be closed? (Health officials in Dallas where the first laboratoryconfirmed case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States answered this question directly)
A. No, regular cleaning that all gyms and fitness centers undergo to prevent other infections and transmissions is more than sufficient.
Updated 10/17/14 12:20 A.M.