Is Los Angeles prepared for Ebola?

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- About half or more than 3,000 patients who have contracted Ebola in West Africa have died, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts, however, say those statistics are not likely in the U.S., as the American health care system is more advanced and better equipped to handle the virus.

"We do have a better way of controlling and hydrating patients and treatment of symptoms. We have a lot more resources," said Annetta Rhinesmith, director of patient safety at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

The USC hospital's critical care units include an isolated room, where an Ebola patient would be housed. Staff treating the patient would wear full-body suits with hoods to prevent spreading the virus.

The Ebola virus only be passed through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids.

Despite that, Rhinesmith said the hospital would still completely seal off the patient's room, ensuring that even the air that is breathed inside the room would not get out.

"We would actually set up a negative airflow," Rhinesmith said. "You keep what's in the room inside the room."

UCLA's medical centers are also prepared for Ebola, complete with isolation rooms and full-body suits.

"We put together 50 of these kits total at UCLA. I think we're ready for potential patients or even patients that have it," said Dr. Zachary Rubin, an infection disease expert at UCLA.