October 20, 2014
Dear Parishioners and Parents of ICS Students,
The safety and well-being of our students and staff are top priorities at ICS. With the
Ebola virus making local and national headlines, it is important to share with you information about this virus and the
school’s preventative measures that are always in place.
The Ohio Department of Health is working with the state’s local health departments to provide timely information about
the spread of this virus. School administrators will be notified immediately by the County Health Department if any
additional steps are needed to protect students and staff against the Ebola virus. My most recent communication was a
conference call on Fri., October 17 with other school administrators, Governor John Kasich, Richard Ross, Superintendent
of Public Instruction, and Richard Hodges, Ohio Dept. of Health Director.
NO cases of Ebola have been reported in Ohio, but here is what you need to know about the virus:
 Ebola has been found in several African countries. It is a rare and potentially fatal disease caused by infection
with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus.
 As with many other illnesses, a person must have direct contact with an infected person or their blood/body
fluid.
 A person infected with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear. The virus can only be spread through
bodily fluids. You cannot get it through air, food, or water.
 Symptoms typically include: fever (greater than 101.5 F), severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea,
stomach pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
 Those at highest risk include healthcare workers and family and friends of a person infected with Ebola. Signs
and symptoms of the disease occur 2-21 days from exposure.
 As in most cases of communicable diseases, the best prevention is to always wash your hands with soap and
water, always cook your food properly and to go to a health facility when you have a headache, fever, pain,
diarrhea, red eyes, rash and vomiting.
The Ohio Department of Health has informed us that the only extra precaution that can and should be taken is a
heightened awareness about Ebola, as the awareness is half the solution. It is reassuring to know, the processes already
in place at ICS meet the recommended standards to help protect our students and staff from the spread of illness. On
Thursday and Friday of last week, while our children were out of the building, our maintenance team disinfected and
washed all classroom floors, desks, countertops, doors and obvious areas throughout the school where there is high
traffic and use of handles, door knobs, etc. You can be assured that we will continue our normal cleaning and disinfecting
routine each day at ICS.
The Ohio Department of Health has set up a 24 hour call center to answer Ohioans’ questions regarding the Ebola virus –
the number to call is 1-866-800-1404. If you would like more information about this disease, please visit the Ohio
Department of Health’s website at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/en/odhprograms/dis/orbitdis/ebola/Ebola.aspx.
On the ICS webpage, www.immaculateconceptionbellevue.org, under the School Nurse tab, we are putting information
from the Center for Disease Control, Ohio Department of Health and from our local health departments for you to read
more about specific diseases and prevention.
To prevent any communicable diseases, we always stress with students and staff the importance of washing hands,
covering their mouths when coughing, and staying home when sick. If I learn of any updates regarding Ebola virus in Ohio
as it has to do with the safety of our school children, please know that I will communicate with you and take the
necessary steps to keep our students and staff safe at ICS.
In Christ,
Mrs. Curtis
Principal