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Despite low risk, local hospital prepares for deadly Ebola virus

THUNDER BAY -- The province isn't taking any chances when it comes to Ebola.
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A nursing student models gear that must be worn by a triage nurse due to concerns over Ebola. (Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- The province isn't taking any chances when it comes to Ebola.

Despite small risk of the deadly virus hitting Thunder Bay, a directive by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care now has a triage nurse at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre gowned and protected with a Plexiglass face shield in case a person turns up at the emergency room with symptoms.

"She's looking for people with a history of travel to West Africa and for people with a fever of more than 38 degrees," interim chief of staff mark Henderson said.

Triage nurses will rotate having to wear the gear every two hours. But one of them will be wearing it every hour of every day until further notice.

"The garb is not particularly comfortable," Henderson said.

While the site may alarm some patients and visitors at the hospital, Henderson is reminding the public that Ebola has never been in Canada.

Even if it was, larger cities would likely be a warning sign first.

"It must be unbelievably remote considering where we are in the country," he said





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