By: Priya Desai
staff writer
@priusdasani

Throughout the hallways of Coppell High School, it has become common to hear a remark like ‘Don’t cough on me, I don’t want to get Ebola!’

Though it has been taken as a joke by many, it’s a serious matter that the Coppell Independent School District is monitoring closely to protect its students.

Although there have been a few infected, the two current confirmed cases at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas and one death from the disease, it is unlikely that Ebola will spread to the students of Coppell if the disease is properly contained at Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas who are working to improve its handling of those infected to prevent future contraction of the virus.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ebola was discovered in 1976 in West Africa. There have been outbreaks in 11 out the last 14 years, but the current outbreak is the worst since. A current article from BBC News explained the virus’ deadly nature for two reasons: first, it is a very destructive disease that works to first shut down the immune system to keep humans from fighting off the disease and second, it is a fast-moving disease with aggressive symptoms such as vomiting and internal bleeding.

The strain in Dallas can be traced back to Thomas Eric Duncan who contracted Ebola while he was in Liberia. Duncan started feeling ill days after he arrived in Dallas on Sept. 20 and was taken to the Texas Presbyterian Hospital. According to an the an article put out by the National Public Radio about the man’s recent death at the plagued hospital, he was believed to have contracted the disease after he helped an infected pregnant woman into a taxi while in Liberia. Duncan unfortunately passed away at the Texas hospital on Oct. 8.

Two nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, who were part of the team responsible for Duncan are currently the only two confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States.

After starting to showcase symptoms on Oct. 12th Pham was the first nurse to be taken in at Texas Presbyterian immediately to prevent more cases of the virus. Recently, she has been moved to National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. according to Fox News and is resting comfortably as she continues to fight off the disease. Pham made an emotional, now viral, video thanking the Texas staff for their service.

Vinson was the second nurse to be infected with Ebola after feeling Ebola symptoms last weekend while on a trip in Ohio. NBC News released an article reporting that the CDC has identified sixteen people that have had contact with Vinson since her contraction of Ebola. Officials believed it’s highly unlikely there will be any cases in Ohio due to this.

2 students on her flight returning from Ohio back to texas have caused a frenzy in the Belton Independent School District in central Texas. DFW NBC News reported 3 schools in the district were closed for multiple due to the students flying on the same flight as Vinson in order to disinfect the schools. School officials sent an email to parents of Belton ISD students Wednesday night explaining the situation of the students to avoid any possible spread.

For people who have not been to West Africa or been in immediate contact with the bodily fluids of those infected at Texas Presbyterian Hospital, current chances of being diagnosed with Ebola are unlikely . Contrary to current popular belief, according to the CDC website page on the Ebola virus, the disease is not spread through air or by water.

The Coppell Independent School District recently released a health update restating that according to the CDC health officials in charge, there are no risks of exposure to the general public at this time.

In relation to Coppell High School, students and parents are being told to stay alert but not to panic over the Ebola virus. Coppell Independent School District will continue to stay alert on updates to keep the students safe and healthy.

“The Ebola scenario is another case in which the district and campuses continue to work together to monitor the situation in order to be ready in case an issue were to arise,” Principal Mike Jasso said.

Jasso also recommend that students and parents remain aware of health issues in the Coppell area that could adversely impact us. For the CISD, the students’ health and safety are a top priority and its number one concern is to monitor health and safety issues.

CHS nurse Beth Dorn encourages students to keep up even more with the Ebola situation and practice healthy habits to prevent any sort of illness such as Ebola this time of the year.

Safe practices include handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding contact with blood or body fluids, never touching the mouth, nose or eyes without washing the hands first and not sharing food or drinks. Other safety precautions include covering the mouth and nose with an elbow or shirt when sneezing or coughing and avoiding sharing personal items such as towels and pillows.

Dorn wants to warn students and parents of the symptoms of Ebola in case the need arises to diagnose it. According to the Center for Disease Control, symptoms include a fever greater than 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, severe headaches, muscle pain and weakness, diarrhea and vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

A CNN report on the epidemic put it perfectly that “Ebola isn’t spreading across the United States, but anxiety about the virus certainly is.” So, as with any illness, methods of prevention is the key to decreasing the number of people infected.

Jasso would like to remind students and parents that CISD will continue to work to keep everyone safe and healthy from this Ebola scare.

For anyone worried about Ebola possibly coming to Coppell, the district encourages citizens to check out out a Health Update they published on Oct. 3: http://www.coppellisd.com/Page/12086