Update from Self Regional

Many people are concerned about the spread of Ebola.

Self Regional, like all hospitals in the state, is working with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to prepare for any potential cases of the virus in S.C. Self Regional is taking  precautions by following CDC Guildelines, and training staff and performing drills to help protect our patients, employees, and community.

To date, there have been no reported cases of Ebola in South Carolina. In the event a case is identified, the CDC will send a response team to monitor the treatment of the patient and transfer to one of the state’s three designated Ebola treatment centers located in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston.

Currently, the cases of Ebola are highly isolated and related to one individual who traveled from West Africa to the U.S. after being infected. Ebola is spread only through contact with body fluids from a person who is infected with the virus. According to the CDC, the symptoms are very similar to flu and may include the following:

  • Fever
  • Severe headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal (stomach) pain
  • Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)

A person who has these symptoms AND has traveled to West Africa or has had close personal contact with someone from West Africa who is exhibiting signs and symptoms of Ebola should call 9-1-1 so EMS can provide appropriate care and transport.

Flu Precautions

While Ebola has dominated the news over the past few months, people are at much higher risk to contract the flu, which is an airborne illness and kills more than 55,000 a year on average in the US.

The best way to protect against the flu is to take proper precautions. Self Regional urges people to:

  • Get an annual flu vaccination
  • Maintain good hand hygiene, washing frequently with soap and water and using hand sanitizers
  • Avoid close contact with others when sick
  • Cover coughs and sneezes

More information is available at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola
http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/FHPF/HealthAlertsNotifications/ebola/

About Self Regional

Self Regional Healthcare is a not-for-profit, regional referral hospital and healthcare provider that serves residents of Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield, and Newberry with prevention, wellness, acute care and tertiary care services including cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, orthopedics and genetics. Self Medical Group is its employed physician affiliate network of 20 practices and more than 60 physicians.