The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service says it's prepared to deal with any unlikely cases of the deadly virus in the city.
"Our planning for this began late August of 2014 and as early as second week of September we had a specialty crew equipped and trained to respond to a potential EVD (Ebola virus disease) case in Winnipeg," said Tom Wallace, acting assistant chief.
Wallace added that 911 operators are screening calls now for potential cases of Ebola and if anyone is suspected to have come in contact with the deadly virus, a specialty crew will be dispatched.
"Right now, we've got four ambulances with trained and equipped staff within the City of Winnipeg, as well as four medical supervisors who would serve as an incident commander on the site," added Wallace.
He said the specialty crew there will be trained to monitor to make sure all equipment is used and worn properly.
But the head of the union for Winnipeg firefighters, Alex Forrest, said his members tell him they don't feel ready.
But the city says because of the plans in place, the risk for fire fighters to come in contact with Ebola patients is low.
"I'm very confident that we have a very solid response plan and I'm also very confident that our relationship with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority as soon as they know something different we know a minute later,” said Robert Grierson, medical director with WFPS.
WRHA said the plans developed with the fire paramedic service will be coupled with its own response plan.
"So, if someone presents to an emergency department and their symptoms are consistent with EVD, the staff will immediately isolate the patient and go through a series of questions that helps determine whether their travel history indicates that EVD is the most likely scenario," said Helen Clark of WRHA.
All of it, city officials said, are plans for a worst-case scenario.
