© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Area officials meet on Ebola

The proposal, Senate Bill 538, would allow the governor to declare a state of infectious disease emergency, create stockpiles of protective equipment, and grant health officials greater power to stop public transportation vehicles and detain individuals w
Courtesy Photo

Area government, health care and emergency management officials met Wednesday in response to the Ebola crisis in North Texas.

Hunt County Judge John Horn, along with almost three dozen representatives from health care agencies, emergency management organizations, cities, Texas A&M University-Commerce and various other public entities met at the Commerce/Hunt County Emergency Operations Center to discuss the situation.

According to a report about the meeting, the officials noted while there is no evidence of the disease in Hunt County, discussion of Ebola has been the topic of conversation for many of the county’s residents.

Horn said concerns about the disease are being taken seriously.

“And that is why we decided to be proactive in meeting with this group of individuals to discuss what plans and responses are in place, in case such a Ebola case in Hunt County occurred,” Horn said.

While much of the Ebola crisis and surrounding issues are unknown factors, most of the agencies meeting Wednesday were reported to be making plans and developing procedures to put in place if Hunt County is faced with the risk.

Each agency is said to be developing procedures and protocols and is planning the coordination with other agencies. Some of these agencies, such as the Hunt Memorial Hospital District, would be on the front line, while others would provide a supportive role.

information concerning Ebola has been placed on the web sites of some of the participating agencies, including the Hunt County Homeland Security Facebook page, the Hunt Regional Healthcare web site and the web site for American Medical Response.

Additional meetings are expected to be scheduled as more information concerning the situation is released, and as plans and procedures are developed.