Tennessee Health Commissioner On Alert, But Thinks Ebola Risk Is Low

Doctors Marion Kainer David Reagan and health commissioner John Dreyzehner address media questions about Ebola. Credit: Emily R. West/WPLN

There have been no cases of Ebola reported in Tennessee, but the state’s Department of Health is taking an offensive approach to handling questions about the disease.

Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner says he doesn’t want Tennesseans to panic when they travel, and he wants them to pay attention to the facts about the disease.

Right now, members of the state’s health department and soldiers from Fort Campbell are in Ebola afflicted countries. But Commissioner Dreyzenher doesn’t anticipate them bringing the infectious virus back, emphasizing they will be screened before coming home.

“Fear, mistrust and stigma is going to do more, much more harm to the health of prosperity for Tennessee and around the world,” Dreyzenher says.

Ebola can’t be spread easily, and the virus isn’t airborne. It also can’t be spread through food or water. The virus can only spread when someone already has active symptoms of the disease.

But just in case, Dreyzenher says most Tennessee hospitals do have an isolation unit that could be used to quarantine any infected patients.