Hospitals in Butler and Grove City are preparing for the possibility of getting a patient with the Ebola virus.

The virus, which can be fatal and is spread through bodily fluids, has sickened and killed thousands of people in West Africa.

In the U.S., four people have been diagnosed with the virus. Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national, was diagnosed in Texas last month and died Oct. 8.

Two nurses who treated Duncan, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, also have been diagnosed. And a doctor in New York City who had treated patients in West Africa was diagnosed Thursday with Ebola.

Dr. David Rottinghaus, medical director of the emergency department at Butler Memorial Hospital, said the hospital has held several meetings regarding the virus. He said that a key point is for staff members to ask relevant questions of anyone showing symptoms of Ebola.

“What we have done is ... increased our vigilance about asking people about their travel history,” Rottinghaus said.

On the off chance a patient is diagnosed with the virus, the hospital will follow the procedure set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which entails immediately isolating the patient, outfitting the staff who will work with the patient with protective gear, and ensuring that no other staff or patients get infected.

He said the hospital is equipped with plenty of protective gear.

“We’ve probably overstocked at this point,” Rottinghaus said.

He said there have been training sessions on the use of the protective gear.

“There are things that we practice that we hope not to see,” Rottinghaus said.

The hospital has enhanced its infection control procedures and built up its patient isolation procedures. Additionally, all levels of employees have received extra training and information about the virus.

“A lot of it is education,” Rottinghaus said.

At the Grove City Medical Center, officials recently met to discuss safety procedures for the Ebola virus.

“When you’re in health care, there really is no small problem,” said CEO Rob Jackson.

He said the hospital has to be prepared, for example, if a traveler feels sick while driving along Interstate 80, goes to the center for care and is diagnosed with the virus.

“We have to be just as prepared as any other hospital in the country,” Jackson said. “This type of illness certainly presents challenges that we don’t see every day.”

Melissa Ferguson, infection preventionist at the center, said the center will follow protocol set forth by the CDC if it gets a patient with Ebola.

She said the procedure includes isolating the patient, having the staff put on protective gear and notifying the CDC and the state Department of Health.

Mark Arblaster, director of security, said there will be refresher training on using prevention equipment.

Ferguson noted that the main symptoms of Ebola, which are fever, sweating, chills and nausea, are common in other illnesses present at this time of year.

“It’s the travel history that is key,” Ferguson said.

She said the CDC and Department of Health officials would come to the center to assist. She said the CDC would work on contacting family members of the infected patient.

Jackson said it is important to promote good infection prevention habits among the staff.

“These good habits are what protect our staff and patients every day,” Jackson said.