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•With the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being a severe and often fatal sickness, this year’s outbreak is the largest outbreak in history, stretching across the West African countries Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). Personal protective measures (PPM) are important for preventing the spread of EVD.•With U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft delivering cargo and ground personnel to the high-threat areas, medical officials from Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Surgeon General’s office of Public Health (SGP), sought it necessary to create a screening process to ensure aircrew members have minimal contact with the virus.•Currently, the risk of Ebola virus transmission to U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel is low.
Col. (Dr.) Bruce Neely is an Air Force flight physician, and the medical director of Emergency Services with MultiCare’s Auburn Medical Center in Auburn, Washington. He’s a consultant with refining and validating the instruments AFRC SGP developed to screen aircrew members who support Ebola operations in West Africa. He’s also a contributor for defining the screening process for aircrews in the Ebola threat area. Neely personally assessed the health conditions of the first Air Force C-17 aircrew that landed in Senegal and Liberia mid-September, and ensured they hadn’t contacted with the disease.
Interview requests with Dr. Neely should go through the 446th Airlift Wing. To interview Dr. Neely in his capacity with the MultiCare Health System, please contact, Marce Edwards at (253) 833-7711. Col. (Dr.) Rebecca Reynolds, Air Force Reserve Command Surgeon General Office – AFRC Public Affairs - (478) 327-1753.
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