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Ebola Questions Partially Answered

October 23rd, 2014 by Mike Vasilinda

Governor Rick Scott says state government is prepared if an Ebola patient presents them self in Florida, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the state has been short on details and reluctant to talk about the disease.

The first question in this weeks Gubernatorial debate was about Ebola preparations…a sure sign of what’s on people’s minds. “Are you completely confidential hospitals in this state can treat that patient without health care workers getting sick” asked CNN moderator Jake Tapper.

“Here’s what we’ve done so far” responded Governor Rick Scott.

But getting answers has been like pulling teeth. We first began asking about Ebola in August. What followed were several phone calls assuring us hospitals were on the lookout.

Two week ago, a multi agency press office, know as the joint information center, was established. Requests for interviews were again turned down. The office has  made sure copies of newspaper editorials praising the Governor’s Ebola efforts are sent out.

After getting no where, we headed across the Capital city with a camera in tow. As a courtesy, we gave the Governor’s Director of Communications a heads up.

We got voice mail. Frank, Mike Vasilinda. I wanted to let you know so you’re not blindsided that we are about two minutes away from walking into the EOC with a camera.”

With camera rolling we went into the building housing the Joint Information Center, After a ten minute wait, Brian Koon, the state’s Emergency manager appeared.

Someone shows up at Jackson Memorial,  what happens?”“Well, I’ll let the Department of Health work through all of the specifics on that piece of it, but there are very clear screening guidance from the CDC and the State of Florida to insure that we understand what the actual potential this person has; Ebola as you know is very difficult to get ebola.”

Emergency Director Brian Koon was courteous, answered our questions, and deferred when he didn’t have an answer. Those answers lie at the Department of Health and we still haven’t been able to talk to state health official about preparedness.

Earlier this week, the emergency mangers from most of Florida’s counties participated in a day long ebola response training. The National Guard has turned down our request to video and report on the training of two 16 member ebola response teams.

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