This release was issued under a previous government.

“Even though there hasn’t been a case of Ebola in Canada, we continue to ramp up our efforts to prepare for a potential case in our province. We’re meeting weekly with health leaders from across the country to share information about the latest and best available infection prevention and control measures to protect Albertans and our health-care workers.”

Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health

Update on Alberta’s Ebola preparedness

  • More than 110 Ebola education and training sessions have been held for Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff across the province in the last two weeks.
  • More than 1,700 people have attended these sessions.
  • About 80 more training sessions will be taking place in the next week.
  • An Ebola information video has been developed for health-care providers.
  • New guidelines for nutrition, food, linen and environmental service staff.
  • Enhanced guidelines for:
    • infection, prevention and control in acute care,
    • infection, prevention and control for waste management,
    • rapid assessment and triage for patients with fever, and care for seriously ill potential or proven Ebola cases.
  • Ebola personal protective equipment (PPE) packs, which include the current PPE recommendations for staff dealing with suspected or confirmed cases, have been sent to the four acute care facilities designated to care for suspected or confirmed cases in Alberta, as well as all regional and urban hospital emergency departments, urgent care centres and several additional sites. These starter packs bring together the PPE that are already available at these facilities into easy-to-use sets.
  • Since August, AHS has used its Emergency Coordination Centre to develop and implement Ebola guidelines and protocols in Alberta.

The Government of Alberta will continue to work closely with Alberta Health Services and the Public Health Agency of Canada to make sure the appropriate safety measures are in place.

The Ebola virus does not spread easily from person to person. It is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids – not through casual contact.