Ebola chances reaching Vanuatu slim

Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Port Vila, Dr Jacob Kool, told the Daily Post that chances of the deadly Ebola virus disease reaching Vanuatu is very small at this stage, but the country should be prepared

The Ebola virus disease outbreaks in the three West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea continue to grow.

Health experts warn that it can take a long time before it is brought under control in those countries.

Last week, for the first time, a person who travelled from Liberia to the USA became ill four days after arriving. This was the first time that this disease was carried by an air traveler.

What is the risk for Vanuatu?

Head of the WHO Country Office in Port Vila, Dr Jacob Kool, told the Daily Post yesterday that while chance sof the Ebola virus disease reaching Vanuatu is very small at this stage, the country should be prepared.

”Yesterday (Wednesday) I met with the doctors and nurses of Vila Central Hospital (VCH) and briefed them on all protective measures and how to be prepared in case the deadly virus disease happens to enter the country with infected person(s) from abroad,” he said.

Dr. Kool says that, unfortunately, screening arriving travellers for a disease like Ebola, is not very effective. A traveller can arrive while he is perfectly healthy, but after a few days they can become sick. Therefore the doctors and nurses in this country must know how to diagnose and manage a case and how to protect themselves should there be a case reaching Vanuatu, he said.

”Though it is still very unlikely that Ebola will come here, because the big outbreaks are still only in the three West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia with a population of 20 million people. No outbreaks are currently happening in the rest of the African continent.

”We are still concerned that a case has spread to the USA. In the furure it may spread again to other European countries. These countries are well prepared, and they will be able to control it.

”But we do not want to see it reaching Vanuatu. Although the government and the hospitals are working hard to be well prepared, without sophisticated facilities and equipment it will still be more difficult to deal with Ebola here,” the WHO Country Liaison Officer in Vanuatu, told Daily Post.

He said the infection does not spread through the air but only through direct contact with a sick Ebola patient, or through contact with their bodily fluids. He said the fast spread of Ebola in West Africa is due to people caring for sick family members and unsafe burial practices. Those countries also have a severe lack of healthcare workers.

”On average, in Africa, we see that 70% Ebola patients die of the disease, but good medical care can improve the chance of survival a lot,” said Dr. Kool.

”Vanuatu must do everything it can now in terms of being fully prepared in every ways to combat the deadly virus disease Ebola, if at all, it happens to reach the Pacific Region including Vanuatu. Fortunately they are doing that, with the help form WHO and other partners,” said Dr Kool.

The Daily Post understands that high level government officials have held a number of meetings to discuss the issue of Ebola over the past weeks and every protective measures are being addressed by the government through the Ministry of Health and the WHO in Port Vila and Vanuatu.

On the questions of government policy on citizens and residents travelling to destinations abroad and control and or screening of visitors coming into Vanuatu from abroad, Dr. Jacob Kool, said these are the issues that are being addressed by the government.

The Daily Post has not been able to get comment from government officials concerned before going to press.