Georgetown: The Health Ministry said it has already stepped up alertness to any threat of the deadly Ebola disease which broke out in West Africa some months ago.
The Ministry said following a meeting convened by the Director General of the World Health Organisation(WHO) with the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, all countries have been instructed to take certain steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
In Guyana, he said these activities have been “rolling out quietly over the past few weeks as the situation in Africa evolved and was analysed by the Ministry relying on the best guidance of the WHO”.
According to the Ministry, it has been closely following developments internationally and convened a meeting of its Emergency Response Committee and immediately strengthened and reinforced directives and measures already in place.
“The committee is, even as this release is being made, in the process of strengthening port health, surveillance and clinical systems.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud has been instructed to immediately expand the realignment of human resource to support the unfolding effort and has also been instructed to keep the media updated.
Ebola is not airborne and can only be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who has the disease.
Meanwhile, the Ministry said in its statement after discussion and deliberation on the information provided at the August 6-7 meeting with the WHO Director, the committee advised that: The Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an “extraordinary event” and a public health risk to other states; the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.
As a result, a coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola.
The committee made specific recommendations to three categories of countries: states with Ebola transmission – declare national emergency and put in place systems to respond to the outbreak; states with potential or confirmed Ebola cases and unaffected states with land borders with affected states – heighten surveillance; and put contingency plans into operation, strengthen monitoring and control measures
Besides, there should be no general ban on international travel or trade; restrictions outlined in these recommendations regarding the travel of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases and contacts should be implemented.
States should provide travellers to Ebola affected and at-risk areas with relevant information on risks, measures to minimise those risks, and advice for managing a potential exposure.
States should be prepared to detect, investigate, and manage Ebola cases; this should include assured access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD and, where appropriate, the capacity to manage travellers originating from known Ebola-infected areas who arrive at international airports or major land- crossing points with unexplained febrile illness.
Risk of exposure
The general public should be provided with accurate and relevant information on the Ebola outbreak and measures to reduce the risk of exposure. States should be prepared to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of nationals (eg health workers) who have been exposed to Ebola.
Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent.
It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care.
During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.
The Ebola virus can devastate families and communities, but the infection can be controlled through the use of recommended protective measures in clinics and hospitals, at community gatherings, or at home.
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