Dear Colleague:
The recent announcement of a confirmed case of Ebola in Texas underscores the importance of all hospitals in
Minnesota being prepared to safely manage a patient with Ebola or other infectious disease. While the odds of a
person infected with Ebola presenting for treatment at any given hospital in Minnesota may be quite low, the
possibility will continue to exist as long as the outbreak persists in West Africa.
We know many hospitals have already taken steps to prepare, and now is the time for every hospital in
Minnesota to verify that it is fully prepared to detect a patient with Ebola, protect health care workers so they
can safely care for the patient, and respond in a coordinated fashion. To this end, hospital staff and
management at the highest levels must be reviewing and updating Ebola response plans. Administrators must
be prepared to ensure that all needed clinical diagnostic and management services are available for patients
being evaluated for Ebola and patients confirmed to have Ebola.
To help with your hospital’s review and planning efforts, please review and share the following resources:




Detailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/hospital-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf
How U.S. Clinical Laboratories Can Safely Manage Specimens from Persons Under Investigation for
Ebola Virus Disease
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/safe-specimen-management.html
Safe management of patients with Ebola virus disease in US Hospitals
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/patient-management-us-hospitals.html
Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/infectionprevention-and-control-recommendations.html
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) stands ready to assist with assessing cases and communicating
information to media and various stakeholders. We urge you to contact the MDH Infectious Disease,
Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at 651-201-5414 (toll free 1-877-676-5414) immediately upon
encountering a patient whose symptoms and history indicate a heightened risk of Ebola infection.
Thank you for your partnership in safeguarding the health and well-being of Minnesotans.
Sincerely,
Edward Ehlinger, MD, MSPH
Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Health
Lawrence J. Massa
President and CEO
Minnesota Hospital Association