GALVESTON, Texas — The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being called the second worst outbreak in history.
More than 1,100 people have reportedly died, and health officials say it’s spreading quickly.
UTMB in Galveston is playing a vital role in fighting the deadly virus around the world. UTMB researchers helped developed the Ebola vaccine.
In March, the hospital also finished construction on a state-of-the-art Biocontainment Unit that can be used to treat patients infected with high consequence pathogens, like Ebola.
Chad Connally, Biocontainment & Emergency Management program manager at UTMB, says high consequence pathogens are highly contagious, have a high mortality rate, and have few counter measures to treat them.
“I think eventually something may get back to us. My personal opinion, I think with the ease of international travel nowadays, we always have to be concerned about diseases from other countries showing up here,” said Connally.
Only 10 hospitals in the country have similar units.
The six-room unit at UTMB has negative airflow and was built using special non-porous materials. Even electrical outlets are sealed with silicone.
“The way the unit is constructed, the rooms are pretty much sealed off. You could probably fill them up with water and nothing would come out,” said Connally.
Lab work is also done in the unit to reduce the chance of the illness spreading.
If a patient arrives at the hospital with what’s called a high consequence pathogen, staff is trained to mobilize and be fully operational in just 40 minutes.
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