Doctor Stephen King, St. Lucia’s government pathologist said that while it is unlikely that the dreaded Ebola virus will surface in the Caribbean, the outbreak in Guinea is an opportunity for all Governments in the region to be vigilant and prepared in general for any public health emergency.
In fact, international reports suggest that Doctors Without Borders has deemed the outbreak in Guinea as “unprecedented” because it has spread so rapidly and not because of the number of deaths, which currently stands at seventy-eight.
Dr. King said that the St. Lucia government and all regional governments are doing all that is possible to keep the deadly virus at bay.
“This is an opportunity for the global community to be proactive and ensure that our borders are protected. While unlikely to reach the Caribbean, we still must remain vigilant and we are dealing with a global issue whether your country is developed or a developing state. Developed countries are by no means immune,” said Dr. King.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the Ebola’s infection’s speed of transmission is unusual and presents huge challenges to medical personnel to contain the virus. According to WHO, the outbreak is adding further strain on an already-overstretched public health care system where water and sanitation services are inadequate.
“This situation presents an opportunity to review present surveillance systems. I think it is unlikely that the virus will spread to the Caribbean, but we must assess effective protocols in the country where the epidemic exists,” he said.
Ebola is a deadly virus and there is no cure. WHO has indicated that there are 78 confirmed deaths but that there are 12 suspected cases outside of Guinea in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The WHO has confirmed 15 outbreaks across Africa since 1976 when the Ebola virus was first discovered.
