Ohio State issued Ebola reporting guidelines today. Beginning immediately the University is strongly urging any student or staff member to self-report recent travel to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone. Ohio State University Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Andrew Thomas said the reporting should be done within three weeks of travel. We feel we have that special responsibility to other students who live in residence halls, other students in class, to at least know who the people are so that we can assist if needed," Thomas said.
"We can reaffirm the management plan that the health department has put in place, and do some education for them on what to do if we do get symptoms.
Anyone who has treated or been exposed to a Ebola patient must report it to the Critical Event Officer at Ohio State. In an e-mail issued Friday, the University said all reported information will remain confidential. Thomas said the Ohio State will, however, notify local health agencies. Were not going to put any extra limitations that our colleagues that public health wouldnt put onto those scenarios," Thomas said.
OSU officials say they will continue to aggressively monitor all Ebola-related developments in West Africa and cases of the virus reported in the U.S.