Ebola special issue includes clinician primer

Special feature from the Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health

2014-10-17

(Press-News.org) Rockville, MD – Accurate knowledge regarding Ebola is critical and pertinent for practicing physicians and clinicians given the current risk of hazardous global outbreak and epidemic. The Journal, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness has launched a special issue, Ebola Virus and Public Health, to surround the public, medical professionals and media with necessary knowledge in this critical societal moment.

On October 17, the journal published A Primer on Ebola for Clinicians. The primer was prepared by Dr. Eric Toner, internist and emergency physician, as well as Amesh A. Adalja and Thomas V. Inglesby (all of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). The primer discusses the history, epidemiology, microbiology, clinical manifestations, biosafety, prevention, treatment and experimental vaccines to offer an informative and inclusive background on the Ebola virus for clinicians.

The scale of the uncontrolled outbreak in Western Africa makes further exportation to other parts of the world an unfortunate possibility (as citizens across the globe have already witnessed, with cases appearing in Europe and the United States). Those who serve at the frontlines of emergency medicine, critical care, infectious diseases and infection control are in high need and demand, and in some cases, high risk. The primer provided by the UPMC professionals offers clear and concise information on the fundamentals of the virus, including its diagnosis, treatment and control. The public and media are especially apt to benefit from the clear and accurate information provided by the primer, as the popularity of social media makes misinformation about Ebola easily (and rapidly) sharable, believed and misattributed.

INFORMATION: About the Journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness is the first comprehensive and authoritative journal emphasizing public health preparedness and disaster response for all health care and public health professionals globally. The journal seeks to translate science into practice and integrate medical and public health perspectives. DMPHP is the official journal of the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, and is produced by Cambridge University Press.

About the Society The Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health aims to evolve a discipline around disaster medicine and public health. The society's goal is to improve global health security, with the involvement and development of global health professionals and others who are involved in responding to and or managing significant events. The mission of the SDMPH is to advance and promote excellence in education, training and research in disaster medicine and public health for all potential health system responders based on sound educational principles, scientific evidence and best clinical and public health practices.

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