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Authorizing the Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety to conduct hearings regarding Citywide emergency preparedness for healthcare emergencies such as identification and safe treatment of individuals who have contracted an infectious disease, such as the Ebola virus, and strategies to effectively suppress the spread of such infectious disease.
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WHEREAS, Over 7,400 cases of Ebola and 3,431 deaths due to the disease have been reported since the outbreak was first reported in West Africa last December. The virus, which has no vaccine or cure, begins with flu-like symptoms and ends with massive internal hemorrhaging and has a death rate of around 50 percent; and
WHEREAS, Several countries in West Africa are reporting widespread and intense transmission of epidemic proportions of Ebola. Recently the disease has impacted individuals beyond West Africa. On October 8, 2014, The Hill reported that a total of 14 patients have been treated for Ebola outside of West Africa; and
WHEREAS, On September 30, 2014, in Dallas, Texas, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the first travel-associated case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States. That passenger died from Ebola on October 8, 2014. Five Americans have been treated or remain in treatment for Ebola in Texas, Nebraska and Georgia; and
WHEREAS, On October 7, 2014 four people were hospitalized with Ebola in Spain. The Philadelphia Airport offers flights to over 40 international cities and deplaned over two million international passengers in 2013 and over 1.3 million international passengers from January to July, 2014. Therefore, it is essential that airport personnel are adequately trained to recognize and effectively respond to infectious diseases; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Jefferson Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple Hospital and Good Shephered Hospital (formerly known as Graduate Hospital) are some of the nation's leading medical facilities whose expertise and advice will be invaluable to the discussion of treatment and quarantine of individuals diagnosed with infectious diseases; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Police Department, the Fire Department and the School District of Philadelphia may play a key role in suppressing the spread of infectious diseases; and
WHEREAS, With proper protocols in place and adequate training of emergency and medical response personnel, infectious disease outbreaks can be prevented in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committees on Public Health and Human Services and Public Safety are authorized to conduct joint hearings to assess the risk, develop a strategic plan and educate citizens on the appropriate emergency and medical response to Ebola and the effective suppression of infectious diseases.
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