Purdue monitoring Ebola outbreak, provides FAQ for University community

As Purdue continues to closely monitor events related to the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa, the University's Public Health Emergency Planning team has prepared an FAQ to help inform the Purdue community about Ebola.

The FAQ is available here.

At present, no immediate threat to the Purdue campuses has been identified, and Purdue will continue monitoring as it would for any potential health threat. Purdue has activated its Public Health Emergency Planning team -- a subcommittee of the Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee -- and the group has met with area hospital providers and county health officials to share Purdue's planning processes, says Carol Shelby, senior director for environmental health and public safety.

The Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) is receiving bulletins from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) related to Ebola and will distribute any necessary information and guidance, as it is known, through campus communication channels. PUSH continuously monitors any and all infectious diseases, including Ebola. Detailed infection control systems are in place.

As in any situation, students who need medical attention should, for an emergency, call 911 or contact PUSH for nonemergency care at 765-494-1700. Faculty and staff should contact their medical provider for nonemergency care.

At this time, there is a much higher chance of contracting seasonal influenza than Ebola, Shelby says. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to get their flu shots. Flu shots are available to students at PUSH, and details are available here.

The Center for Healthy Living is hosting a free flu shot event from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today (Oct. 17) at Birck Nanotechnology Center, Room 1001. Employees, spouses/SSDPs and children who are covered on a Purdue medical plan also have the option of getting a free flu shot by going to their health care provider or to a retail pharmacy. Details are here.

Additional information 

PUSH website: www.purdue.edu/push

Purdue Emergency Preparedness and Planning office: www.purdue.edu/ehps/emergency_preparedness

Department of State Travel Warnings & Alerts: www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html