Meet Our Guest
Dr. Kristie Rivers is an Attending Physician, Assistant Medical Director of the Pediatric Hospitalist Program, and Director of Pediatric Medical Education at a children’s hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She cares for hospitalized children and also teaches pediatric residents and medical students.
To date, more than 3,000 people in West Africa have died due to the deadly Ebola virus. A recent World Health Organization release said this fatal disease has been largely affecting Africa, but recently, a patient in Dallas has been diagnosed with Ebola—the first diagnosis in the United States.
Bundoo Pediatrician Dr. Kristie Rivers breaks down what Ebola is and how prepared parents need to be to protect their children from this deadly virus.
Bundoo
What is Ebola?
Dr. Kristie Rivers
Ebola is a viral infection like the flu, but it’s very rare. There are five strains of Ebola causing the current epidemic in Africa. In terms of symptoms, Ebola has a high fever, muscle aches, unexplained bruising or bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Bundoo
How is it spread?
Dr. Kristie Rivers
You have to be in direct contact with bodily fluids, including blood, vomit, saliva or feces. So if you’re sitting next to someone with Ebola and they sneeze on you, you’re not really in danger of getting it. You have to be in direct, close contact with bodily fluids.
Bundoo
So far, it’s been an international news story, but they have diagnosed one case in Texas and at least one other case is suspected there. How prepared are we to deal with an Ebola outbreak in this country?
Dr. Kristie Rivers
From a hospital perspective, a disease like this requires strict isolation and close monitoring of people who might have come into contact with it. But I think the United States is prepared to deal with it. Even with isolated cases here in the United States, it won’t look anything like it looks in West Africa. We’re very capable of handling isolated, sporadic cases.
Bundoo
Should parents worry or do anything in particular to protect their families against Ebola? Is there a vaccine against it, like the flu vaccine?
Dr. Kristie Rivers
No, there’s no vaccine against Ebola. We’ve never needed one. I don’t think parents should be concerned unless their child gets sick and has been in direct contact with someone who was recently in Africa.
This information is very helpful. Thank you!