CARPHA boss says risk of Ebola to region “low”

By Caribbean Medical News Staff

Executive director of CARPHA, Dr C James Hospedales of The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says the risk of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported to the Caribbean is low.

There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in the Caribbean, and overall, the risk of becoming infected with the Ebola virus in this region remains low. Ebola spreads through mucous and other body fluids or secretions such as the stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people. In the unlikely event of a person infected with Ebola travelling to the Caribbean, the available evidence shows that the risk of secondary transmission to direct close contacts (family or relatives) or in healthcare settings is still considered very low, if appropriate prevention measures are implemented” he said.

He indicated that in the countries in West Africa where the virus is prevalent and has already killed over 900 people, those people have had direct contact with the organs, blood, or other bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals and people who have such contact are the ones with the most risk. This, of course, has implications for health care workers, some of whom have fallen ill. A nurse in Nigeria has been infected, a Nigerian doctor has been infected and two American doctors were flown back to the US for treatment at Emory University Hospital.

State of emergency

There has been an increase in over 100 cases in two days following a general and rapid increase in cases in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and a skip of a border with the disease now in Nigeria.

WHO is considering whether to declare Ebola a global emergency while Liberia has declared a state of emergency.

The outbreak has been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and according to the World Health Organisation in these countries, there have been 1,711 confirmed cases of EVD and over 900 deaths.  This is the largest EVD outbreak ever reported and the World Health Organisation is continuing meeting to discuss measures to contain and control the outbreak.

Hospedales
also insisted that the risk from casual contact from sitting next to people or shaking hands in those who did not display typical flu-like symptoms alongside stomach pains was also low.

The risk from casual contact, such as shaking hands or sitting next to someone who is not displaying symptoms is also likely to be very low,” reiterated Dr Hospedales.  Similarly, the risk remains low to those who travel to the region or live in the regions affected once they follow the precautions which include avoiding physical contact with patients including unprotected sex or those showing symptoms as well as with dead bodies or their bodily fluids.

Hospedales says CARPHA is committed to supporting its member states to adequately prepare for potential cases and to implement the necessary steps to protect patients, healthcare professionals and the public at large.

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