Health officers at entry points ready to deal with Ebola threat

Health Ministry staff at all levels, including those stationed at international entry points, have been given information on the management of cases suspected to be Ebola viral disease (EVD) which has been reported to be spreading in several West African countries.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the information covered screening of EVD, preventive measures including control of infection, detection and contact of suspected cases, immediate notification and referring suspected cases to nearest hospitals.

"The National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre is monitoring the incidence of EVD in West Africa and implementing the ministry's response to the disease here," he said in a statement here.

According to Subramaniam, to date, there has been no EVD reported in Malaysia.

He said the Health Ministry has a laboratory at the Institute of Medical Research which could detect the virus while there were facilities in government hospitals throughout the country to treat such cases.

Subramaniam also quoted the World Health Organisation which said the EVD situation in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria was a public health emergency of international concern.

As of Aug 6, 1,779 cases have been detected, with 961 deaths reported.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam said WHO had not issued any travel prohibition on affected countries and other than contact with the EVD cases, the people there were not prohibited from traveling overseas.

"Among the recommendations of the WHO was that countries facing Ebola should conduct exit screenings and if a person showed signs of Ebola, he should not be allowed to travel overseas except for medical evacuation purposes," he said.