Concerned about the level of misinformation permeating social media regarding Ebola, the Minnesota Department of Health has created a workday hot line for people with questions and concerns about the deadly virus.
"We would much rather people get their information from us," said Sam Brungardt, a department spokesman. "We know that it is factual and something to rely upon."
Fifteen employees in the Health Department's infectious disease and epidemiology division are assigned to handle calls, he said, and will either provide responses to common questions from a list of state health talking points, or will forward the call to a disease expert.
The number is 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 and is active weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A webchat hosted by the Star Tribune Monday with the state's infectious disease director revealed public concerns about travel safety and a number of misunderstandings about Ebola, including the fact that it is not an airborne virus.
The virus, which spreads by contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood or saliva, has spread primarily in west Africa, where more than 9,000 people have been infected and 4,500 have died. A traveler returning from Liberia died this month after being diagnosed with an Ebola infection in Dallas, where two of his nurses also suffered infections. They are the only U.S.-diagnosed cases to date.
Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744
