The discovery of three suspected Ebola cases in Metro Vancouver has exposed a glaring lack of preparation to deal with the disease, according to the B.C. Nurses’ Union.

Union president Gayle Duteil said even though tests confirmed all three cases were false alarms, the scares revealed many nurses lack critical Ebola training.

“I do not believe that we are prepared on the ground level, on the front line,” Duteil said.

The concerns were raised Tuesday following news that a 26-year-old nurse had been infected with Ebola while caring for a patient in Texas.

The nurse, Nina Pham, is believed to have contracted the disease due to a lapse in procedure.

The BCNU said it wants nurses trained in infection control and caring for Ebola patients, and to have a strict protocol implemented for safely removing protective gear.

“That needs to be taught. There’s a step-by-step process that has to be undertaken in order to prevent cross-contamination,” Duteil said.

The union president sent a letter to the CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health Tuesday outlining her concerns and warning that nurses would be advised not to care for suspected Ebola patients until they have received proper training.

“On paper things may look good, however we have been canvassing our members on designated units who advise on the ground that is simply not the case,” the letter reads.

B.C.’s Medical Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall disagreed, insisting that the province’s hospitals are prepared to deal with potential Ebola cases.

Kendall said Pham’s infection still warrants a review of procedures, however.

“This is an opportunity to reassess our processes and make sure people on the front lines have equipment and familiarity,” he told reporters Tuesday.

More than 20 suspected Ebola cases have been reported across Canada, all negative.

The World Health Organization said Ebola could start infecting up to 10,000 people per week in West Africa by the end of the year if more isn’t done to combat the spread of the disease there.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Jon Woodward