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Ohio Hospitals Say They Are Ready To Treat Ebola Cases

The Cleveland Clinic and other Ohio hospitals are advising residents to tell their doctors if they've traveled to West Africa, where the Ebola virus is believed to have killed thousands of people. Clinic infectious disease specialist Steve Gordon says the risk of having an Ebola patient in Ohio is very low, but hospitals have plans that include a thorough review of travel history.

A hospital in Coldwater has signs at main entrances telling patients they should inform staff members if they've traveled to West Africa recently. Columbus Public Health officials say two people who traveled to West Africa were recently treated for Ebola-like symptoms, but neither had the virus. Columbus area hospitals say they have plans in place to isolate and treat anyone with the virus. A hospital in Dallas is treating the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.