Town Hall answers Aviano’s questions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Lotz
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Aviano leadership hosted a town hall to answer any concerns about Aviano's role in the Ebola mission, "Operation United Assistance," Nov. 7, 2014.

Airmen, their families, and local Italian nationals attended the meeting to help better understand the disease.

"The intent behind this town hall is to communicate the Ebola situation, dispel any rumors there may be, discuss base procedures in the matter, and answer any questions the public may have," said Col. Gregory Kreuder, 31st Fighter Wing vice commander. "We share people's concerns and are taking all the appropriate actions to ensure we do not have any issues here in Italy."

Topics discussed included how Aviano is preventing Ebola from entering the country while still combating the spread of the disease at the source.

"Aviano members that are currently deployed and assisting with Operation United Assistance are there to increase [the northern Africa countries'] logistics structure, to help medical workers with their personal protective equipment and treatment and to provide contracting oversight for the goods and services they need to treat this outbreak," explained Col. Scott Price, 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron chief and public health emergency officer.

Ebola is a virus that can cause multiple symptoms, which occur 2-21 days after being exposed.

The symptoms for Ebola include:

- Fever greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit
- Headaches and muscle pain
- Diarrhea, vomiting or stomach pain
- Unexplained bruising or bleeding

According to the U.S. Africa Command, President Obama considers containing the spread of Ebola to be a national security priority requiring the mobilization of the collective resources of the international community.

"Our number one priority is to help Liberia eradicate this illness, while protecting our own individuals and preventing the spread of this disease to anyone else," said Price.

Throughout the town hall, leadership emphasized that individuals cannot contract the virus unless they come into contact with a person's bodily fluids that are symptomatic and encouraged Team Aviano to continue to work hard during this time.

"The biggest thing that people fear is what they don't understand or the unknown; something that is new or different," explained Price. "It's not transmitted through the air like influenza. It is not easy to get. If a person does not have symptoms, they are not contagious."