Sneed: Cook County commissioners to be briefed on local Ebola readiness

Sneed hears Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has directed leadership from the Cook County Health and Hospital System, Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Department of Homeland Security to brief all Cook County commissioners Friday and Monday regarding the county’s Ebola preparedness.

The commissioners will be briefed in small groups by the CEO of the Cook County Health and Hospitals system Dr. Jay Shannon, who will talk about what the latest news and information on the spread of Ebola.

They’re also expected to speak with Dr. Sharon Welbel, the county hospital system’s director of infection control and hospital epidemiology, and with the county Department of Public Health chief Dr. Terry Mason to get the latest on how county hospitals both inside and outside the city would identify and handle confirmed cases of the deadly virus.

Michael Masters, executive director of the county Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, will update the commissioners on how local emergency responders are being trained in the event of Ebola.

There are still no confirmed cases of Ebola in the city.