Guyana initiates basic alert measures in wake of Ebola becoming a ‘global concern’

Jul 28, 2019 News

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Guyana has initiated a basic level alert in the wake of the World Health Organisation [WHO’]s declaration that the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] as a “global concern” which has caused it to be rated as a public health emergency.
Based on information released by WHO there are established phases of a pandemic which can be compared to colour-coded alert levels. These are alert levels Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. Alert Green requires no security measures to be adopted because there is no risk of the disease being communicated.
Alert Yellow on the other hand requires basic security measures, while Alert Level Orange would require maximum security. Alert Red is the stage where WHO declares a pandemic state of emergency and the commencement of an ‘activation of security measures’ would be executed.
“Nevertheless, it is important to conduct periodic exercises to test the effectiveness of equipment and the communication channels and to ensure that personnel are adequately trained,” according to Dr. Kay Shako, Director of Regional Health Services and current Chief Medical Officer (ag).
She revealed, yesterday, that the Yellow Alert has been activated in Guyana.
Moreover, among the recommended measures is the sensitisation of passengers to the precautionary measures and hygiene practices that should be observed during travel such as the possession of hand sanitizers, and practices such as washing hands, wearing of gloves or wiping of surfaces when using the water taps or lavatories.
All travel agencies and airlines selling seats or tickets for travel are also expected to take on the responsibility of sensitising their clients on the risk of Ebola. Dr. Shako also revealed that moves must be made to develop and display signage around the airport check-in area and arrival area for information purposes.
However, appropriate message content must be developed on the recommendation of the Public Health Ministry, she noted.
Further, the establishment of an isolated or sterile facility at the airport, which is remote from public access, should be in place in the event there is a suspected case or cases of Ebola victims.
Among the measures, too, must be the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) to all airport staff when necessary.
During this current alert, appropriate monitoring and surveillance is expected at the VIP Screening checkpoint and this must be implemented by the Airport Management and Port Health.
Further, it will be required that awareness training and sensitisation on measures to detect and combat the Ebola Virus must be provided to all personnel operating at or within these facilities such as the VIP and Executive Lounges.
According to Dr. Shako, too, sensitisation and training of frontline and other staff must be conducted at the check-in counters and elsewhere at the airport.
Among those who must be sensitized are: airline check-in staff, contracted handling companies, contracted security personnel, security screening personnel, cleaners and cleaning companies, immigration officers, red-caps (porters) and taxi-drivers.
“All of the categories of personnel as described above can be used to conduct initial observation and evaluation of outgoing traveling passengers.
“However, they will be required to pay close attention to maintaining a safe distance of three feet from persons with suspected illness; take precautionary measures when handling all travel documents and other personal effects of passengers with suspected illness; report any suspicious cases of illness to Port Health Officers and Port Health Officials along with medical support team from Ministry of Public Health will subject suspected cases to further evaluation and determine if and when such cases should be taken to isolated/ sterile area,” Dr. Shako shared.
Also, the evaluation of arriving passengers is crucial, she added. Given the rating of the disease as a public health emergency, people are expectedly concerned about the regional spread of the Ebola virus, especially after a new spike in cases.
According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director General, “It is time for the world to take notice and redouble our efforts. We need to work together in solidarity with the DRC to end this outbreak and build a better health system”. Dr Ghebreyesus emphasised. However, that great work has been done amidst challenging circumstances. Those contributing to this success include the WHO, national governments, international partners and communities.
“Guyana, a third world country in South America, is no less safe than its neighbours, thus, to this effect, it is imperative that measures be adopted to as advised by the WHO relevant to safe guarding all passengers and our ports of entry,” added Dr. Shako.
She stressed the need for “monitoring civil aviation activities of international travel given that this medium can facilitate the movement of communicable diseases via infected passengers and thereby spreading the threat.”
The processes related to air travel, specifically those associated with outgoing passengers, incoming passengers and activities on board an aircraft can be managed to control the spread of any communicable diseases.
“At this time, the risk of contracting Ebola currently has diminished and as such only the basic measures/SOPs shall be implemented,” Dr. Shako said.

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