With Ebola virus cases now in Texas and New York, coupled with a population that travels, Tennesseans wonder if it could happen in the Volunteer State. St. Thomas Health appears to be living up to their scriptural slogan "Nothing Shall Be Impossible" when it comes to being prepared should Ebola cases reach this area.

Saint Thomas Health's Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President Rebecca Climer told WGNS NewsRadio that Saint Thomas Health is working closely with Ascension Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal, state and local partners to increase associates' understanding of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) and to prepare for any type of infectious outbreak, including, but not limited to Ebola, Mers-CoV, CRE, Enterovirus and Dengue. Saint Thomas Health is prepared to address a possible outbreak or exposure from affected travelers or others who may have come into contact with EVD.

At this time, there have been no reported cases of Ebola in Tennessee.

Climer said, "Saint Thomas Health emergency department's triage staff currently use a screening tool to help identify patients who may be at risk for Ebola, specifically those who have traveled to West Africa in the last 30 days. If an infectious patient is identified, the protocol is to notify the hospital administrator, the medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology, and the infection prevention nurse on call. These individuals will assist in contacting the state Department of Health."

For more information about Ebola, transmission and prevention, please refer to CDC guidelines."