By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an alert to all U.S. hospitals, warning them to make preparations for dealing with the possible spread of the Ebola virus.

It’s unlikely the virus, which has spread rapidly throughout parts of west Africa, will make a sudden appearance in Kansas, or even the United States.

Dr. Bob Moser, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, says the deadly virus could be “just an airplane ride away:”

“World travel is so easy now.  I have no doubt it will cross the pond some day, and we will be dealing not with an outbreak but some cases after they arrive in the United States, Moser predicted.

“The is good news is I think we’ve been doing a good job of  making medical providers aware that it could happen so they’re routinely asking people about their overseas travel and personal contact with victims:”

“Overall, people in the United States are in better health than people in Africa.   Just being healthy before being exposed to Ebola has shown lower fatality rates.  So I don’t think the U.S. would see the fatality rates we’re seeing in Africa,” Moser said.

Two Americans volunteering in west Africa, have contracted Ebola and were evacuated to a special isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

The son of one victim, 60- year-old Nancy Writebol, lives in Wichita. Jeremy Writebol visits his mother through a hospital window because of concerns about contagion.