Recently, my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee and I met with state officials to discuss the prevention of Ebola in Missouri and the potential costs associated with the virus, should it show up here.

The hearing focused on two important issues, avoiding the virus and its effects, and how the state would respond in the event of an outbreak. Hearing from state departments who would be involved in any outbreak of the virus, including the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS), lawmakers wanted to be certain that protocols are in place to prevent the virus from occurring in our state.

Thus far, there have only been a handful of Ebola cases found in the U.S. Among those are two nurses who tended Patient Zero, or Thomas Duncan, in Dallas who have both been declared Ebola-free and have returned to their homes. A doctor in New York City is the only person left who has been diagnosed and quarantined until the incubation period passes.

While Ebola is considered extremely infectious, it is really only moderately contagious at times. Most health professionals say this virus is not transmitted through the air, like the common cold. A person would have to be in direct contact with body fluids from a contaminated person. But keep in mind, that while symptoms typically appear eight to 10 days from the time of exposure, it can take anywhere from two days up to 21 days to incubate.

Typical symptoms of the virus are weakness, fever, aches, vomiting and stomach pain. Other less common symptoms are skin rash, chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing and, later in the incubation period, red eyes and bleeding. Since many of the early symptoms sound like many other viruses or common ailments, it is in the best interest of the patient and the family to get evaluated at a hospital if you have any reason to believe you might have come in contact with someone infected with the Ebola virus.

There is a note of some positive news regarding this illness. If someone is asymptomatic, as in not showing any symptoms, or has already recovered from the virus, Ebola is non-transmissible from that person. The reason we have seen health care workers infected in our country is the close contact between the workers and patient, often before the virus was known to be the cause of illness. However, one good thing that can come from these health-care-workers-turned-patients is that, once successfully treated for Ebola, their blood becomes a type of protection or barrier against the virus. In fact, some former Ebola patients have given blood transfusions to current Ebola patients to serve as a preventive measure.

Following a few simple rules can help stop the spread of the virus. Always wash your hands. That alone will eliminate the threat of many illnesses. Antibacterial hand sanitizers are important to use. Be vigilant about your health and the health of your family. See a doctor if you are concerned. Learning how to avoid this dreaded virus is the most important tool in our arsenal against it. For more information, please visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services web site, www.health.mo.gov or the Center for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.