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Preventing Avian Flu Pandemic: Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Stands Ready to Isolate & Control Early Cases
OMAHA, Neb., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With concern of an avian
influenza epidemic on the rise, a ten-bed biocontainment unit located in
the heart of the country promises to play a unique role. Opened one year
ago at The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, The Nebraska Biocontainment
Unit is currently the only center accessible to civilians in the United
States equipped to safely care for anyone exposed to a contagious and
dangerous disease such as avian flu. Early isolation of an infected patient
is essential -- buying time for public health officials and providing the
chance to either stop an outbreak -- or rapidly contain one. The Unit's
location, on the same campus as the State's Bio-Safety Level-3 laboratory,
allows for timely diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients.
The Nebraska facility can receive patients from anywhere in the
country, and is equipped with Hepa-filtered individual isolation units --
ISO Pods -- that allow for safe transport and transfer of an infected
patient. Headed by Medical Director Dr. Philip Smith, a specialist in
infectious diseases, the Biocontainment Unit has a staff of 15 registered
nurses and 14 respiratory therapists who are on-call 24 hours a day.
In addition to avian flu, other highly contagious and deadly infectious
conditions the unit can handle include: SARS, anthrax, smallpox, tularemia,
plague, botulism, Ebola virus and other viral hemorrhagic fevers,
monkeypox, vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and multidrug
resistant tuberculosis.
Experts are available to discuss the Biocontainment Unit and its
capabilities and would be open to news crews interested in creating a story
on the Unit. B-roll of the Unit can also be coordinated.
WHO: Dr. Philip Smith, Medical Director, The Nebraska Medical Center
Biocontainment Unit
Pat Lenaghan, RN, MSN, Unit Operations Manager / Educational and
Operational Coordinator, Bioterrorism
WHERE: The Nebraska Medical Center Biocontainment Unit
Omaha, Nebraska
CONTACT: Cherie Lytle, Media Relations, The Nebraska Medical Center
402/552-2282 or clytle@nebraskamed.com
Christina Pagano, Pagano & Company Public Relations
212/213-2851, cell 646-382-3871, or PaganoPR@aol.com
OMAHA, Neb., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With concern of an avian
influenza epidemic on the rise, a ten-bed biocontainment unit located in
the heart of the country promises to play a unique role. Opened one year
ago at The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, The Nebraska Biocontainment
Unit is currently the only center accessible to civilians in the United
States equipped to safely care for anyone exposed to a contagious and
dangerous disease such as avian flu. Early isolation of an infected patient
is essential -- buying time for public health officials and providing the
chance to either stop an outbreak -- or rapidly contain one. The Unit's
location, on the same campus as the State's Bio-Safety Level-3 laboratory,
allows for timely diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients.
The Nebraska facility can receive patients from anywhere in the
country, and is equipped with Hepa-filtered individual isolation units --
ISO Pods -- that allow for safe transport and transfer of an infected
patient. Headed by Medical Director Dr. Philip Smith, a specialist in
infectious diseases, the Biocontainment Unit has a staff of 15 registered
nurses and 14 respiratory therapists who are on-call 24 hours a day.
In addition to avian flu, other highly contagious and deadly infectious
conditions the unit can handle include: SARS, anthrax, smallpox, tularemia,
plague, botulism, Ebola virus and other viral hemorrhagic fevers,
monkeypox, vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and multidrug
resistant tuberculosis.
Experts are available to discuss the Biocontainment Unit and its
capabilities and would be open to news crews interested in creating a story
on the Unit. B-roll of the Unit can also be coordinated.
WHO: Dr. Philip Smith, Medical Director, The Nebraska Medical Center
Biocontainment Unit
Pat Lenaghan, RN, MSN, Unit Operations Manager / Educational and
Operational Coordinator, Bioterrorism
WHERE: The Nebraska Medical Center Biocontainment Unit
Omaha, Nebraska
CONTACT: Cherie Lytle, Media Relations, The Nebraska Medical Center
402/552-2282 or clytle@nebraskamed.com
Christina Pagano, Pagano & Company Public Relations
212/213-2851, cell 646-382-3871, or PaganoPR@aol.com
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