Hundreds Gather To Discuss Possible Ebola Outbreak In Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE--Hundreds of health professionals and government agencies came together in Milwaukee Tuesday morning to make sure everyone is on the same page when and if a case of Ebola makes it to Wisconsin.

The symposium of about 250 people representing local, state, and federal agencies and companies, discussed preparations at the Italian Community Center.

At issue is how health professionals are prepared, and plan to implement the recommendations handed down by the Center's for Disease Control and Prevention.

Taking into account the recommendations by the CDC, local doctor's and nurses say they have been advised of how to deal with an Ebola outbreak

Bevan Baker, Milwaukee's Commissioner of Health says Milwaukee has a history of dealing with outbreaks, and says the city and its health professionals on the front lines are prepared in case of an Ebola outbreak in Milwaukee.

Meantime, experts agree that although deadly, Ebola is not nearly the threat at this point that the common flu is, adding that although more cases of the deadly virus will turn up, unlike west Africa, where the ability to contain the virus has become nearly uncontrollable, here in the United States, it will be controlled.

Sid Singh, the associate chief medical officer at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin says his hospital has prepared isolation rooms, and has stocked up on special medial equipment

Meantime,Froedtert and other health care facilities are urging the public to take precautions against the flu, which kills an average of 36,000 people in the US every year.