HEALTH | Low risk of local Ebola outbreak, measures reinforced according to epidemic levels

Guinean soldiers stand around a rope across the road separting Guinea and Sierra Leone

The risk of an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Macau “is very low” but the Health Bureau (SSM) affirmed it has a contingency plan in place and will be prepared to act according to specific epidemic levels that might be reached, a SSM official source told the Times.
By Wednesday, a total of 73 citizens visiting Macau from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria had undergone health checks following a contingency plan put in action by the Macau government. So far, none have presented any symptoms of the disease and, therefore, isolation procedures were not applied.
Since July 31, the Health Bureau in cooperation with the Public Security Police Force (CPSP), has conducted health checks on citizens entering Macau with passports from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
After August 9, similar health assessment procedures were extended to Nigerian nationals.
According to an Associated Press report, Ebola has killed over 1,000 people and sickened nearly 2,000 after the outbreak hit the West African countries.
The Health Bureau explained that thanks to “rigorous and comprehensive” prevention measures taken by Macau authorities, as well as the general population’s attentiveness toward public health, “the likelihood of [the virus] spreading in Macau is not high.”
“It is important to underline that the risk of an Ebola virus outbreak in Macau is very low, hence there is no need for great concern,” a SSM official source said.
The Health Bureau stated it is, however, prepared to modify or improve procedures according to epidemic levels that may be reached.
As the virus spreads across West Africa, many countries have decided to take extraordinary precautions.
In addition to health assessments of some West African nationals, what other precautions have been taken by Macau authorities?
In a response via email, a Health Bureau official source said that in case a visitor presents any symptoms related to Ebola or if the visitor has been in contact with an infected patient, the citizen will be referred to the Conde São Januário Hospital Emergency Services, with health professionals using special protective wear and taking sanitary precautions during transportation.
Those suspected of carrying the virus will be isolated and undergo “necessary medical treatment.” The same procedure will be applied in cases “of probable infection.”
The same source said that Conde São Januário Hospital has a specific wing for the treatment of infectious diseases in which patients remain isolated and are assisted by physicians specialized in infectious diseases.
The 30-bed wing has been equipped with negative room pressure to avoid contamination. Each room has a CCTV system “allowing careful surveillance of the sickest patients,” providing them with the ability to communicate with their family members too.
If needed, the infectious disease wing can be expanded to accommodate 20 more beds.
Other measures taken under the contingency plan include public warnings providing specific information on procedures that Macau citizens should follow in order to prevent a possible spread of the virus. Recommendations on personal hygiene, food security and travel are available, too.
The Health Bureau is also partnering with CTM to inform residents via SMS of basic information in hygiene and prevention measures.
Moreover, notices have been issued directed to the hospitality, tourism and services sectors with the SSM providing guidelines as well as information on Ebola Virus Disease symptoms. Recommendations on precautions with cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation were also provided.
The Bureau also said it launched two information sessions for about 400 health professionals on August 7 and 8. In these meetings, physicians and other professionals were informed that Ebola test reagents were made available in Macau.
It was also stated that the Public Health Lab was being prepared to conduct tests, with results made available within six hours.
Although the neighboring SAR hasn’t initially followed Macau’s exacting lead on Ebola, Hong Kong officials discussed improving security measures this week, after the city’s first suspected case of the Ebola virus was identified.
A Nigerian man was at the center of a brief scare as he was suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, the South China Morning Post reported. He was found not to have the Ebola virus, but criticism emerged over the way he was transported to hospital.
Critics said the ambulance crewmembers were not seen wearing proper protective gear, whilst no government workers had been ordered to clean and disinfect the site.
The World Health Organization deemed the West Africa Ebola virus outbreak an international public health emergency last week. Ebola is one of the deadliest viruses on earth.
Experimental and untested drugs treating Ebola have been made available but Doctors Without Borders said yesterday that their use poses “an impossible dilemma,” AP reported.

who: key facts on ebola

Data provided by the World Health Organization on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) shows that outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90 percent. Ebola outbreaks occur mainly in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spread among the human population through human-to-human transmission. So far, no licensed specific treatment or vaccine has been made available for use in either animals or people.

korean air suspends flights to kenya

Korean Air Lines Co. said yesterday it will suspend flights to and from Kenya as a measure to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The South Korean carrier will stop operating flights between Incheon and Nairobi as of August 20, as the company said it will help prevent the spread of Ebola. In a statement, it did not mention when it would resume its service to Kenya, AP reported.
A World Health Organization (WHO) official said recently that Kenya is vulnerable as it was a major transport hub with many flights arriving from West Africa. This is considered one of the most serious warnings from the WHO that Ebola can spread to East Africa, the BBC reported.

ebola typical symptoms*

Sudden onset of fever
Severe headache
Muscle pain
Intense weakness
Sore throat
Followed by
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rash
Impaired kidney and liver function
In some cases: internal and external bleeding

Catarina Pinto