All major entry points in Malaysia are under an Ebola virus alert. This includes the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Reports also say that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is scrambling to contain the outbreak in West Africa.
The Malaysian Government is stepping up its preparations to prevent this contagious disease from reaching Malaysia.
Officers stationed at entry points have been given clear instructions on what to do to prevent transmission from travellers. This include identifying and handling passengers with symptoms, immediately alerting the ministry and referring cases to the nearest hospital, and also alerting the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre.
Airports and airlines around the world are also starting to screen the health of passengers in line with the guidelines by WHO and International Air Transport Association.
So far, Emirates is the only international airline to suspend flights to Guinea, as a precautionary measure.
According to Malaysia’s Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, the ministry is working with the Foreign Ministry to channel information about Ebola to those planning on travelling to these countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia), as well as to Malaysians already there.
“Similarly, the Education Ministry will also advise and screen students returning from these countries.”
These measures, according to the minister, were already in process the moment the WHO announced the outbreak in Africa, in March. He also said that the Institute of Medical Research had labs capable of detecting Ebola. Government hospitals are also equipped to look after those infected.
According to WHO, the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia is moving faster than efforts to control it (the virus). WHO also warned that the situation could be catastrophic to human life, if the situation continued to deteriorate.
At this point of time, there are 1,201 confirmed cases in the countries mentioned above. More than 670 people have died from Ebola since February.
Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with body fluids and tissues of those infected. It has a fatality rate of up to 90%.
Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and kidney and liver failure.
Story and quote from: The Star
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