The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says the risk of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported to the Caribbean is low.

Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. C. James Hospedales said “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. He added that in countries where the virus is present, people who have direct contact with the organs, blood, or other bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals are those at greatest risk.”

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-governmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Member States and began operation in January 2013. The Agency rationalises public health arrangements in the Region by combining the functions of five Caribbean Regional Health Institutions (RHIs) into a single agency.

Following an increase in the number of cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone recently, and reported cases in Nigeria in the last few days, CARPHA evaluated the risk of importation of the disease to the Caribbean region, including the risk to Caribbean travellers in the affected areas in West Africa.

The current outbreak occurring in Africa affects four countries, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and according to the World Health Organization in these countries, there have been 1,711 confirmed cases of EVD and 932 deaths as at August 04, 2014. This makes it the largest EVD outbreak ever reported, both in terms of cases and the geographical spread. As a result the World Health Organization is beginning a two day emergency meeting today to discuss new measures to tackle the Ebola virus.

“Ebola, spreads through mucous and other body fluids or secretions such as 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. 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.

Once basic precautions are followed, the risk of infection is considered to be “very low” for tourists, visitors or residents in the affected areas. These precautions include avoiding physical contact with patients showing symptoms or dead bodies and their bodily fluids, as well as avoiding unprotected sexual contact with a patient that has recently recovered from the disease.

As with any other imported disease, Ebola virus is causing a lot of concern in the Region. In this regard, CARPHA is committed to supporting its member states to adequately prepare for potential cases and to implement the necessary steps to protect healthcare facilities, patients, healthcare workers and communities.

For further information on Ebola, please visit the CARPHA website at www.carpha.org

Related stories:

Passenger flagged as suspected Ebola carrier causes major scare at Trinidad airport

From Caribbean360

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, August 8, 2014, CMC – A Nigerian doctor who has not been to Africa for the past five years, caused a major scare at the Piarco International Airport after he arrived on a British Airways flight from London on Thursday.

The aircraft and passengers were isolated after the doctor had been flagged as having contracted the deadly Ebola virus that spreads through mucous and other body fluids or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people.

The British Airways flight BA 2159 originated in London Gatwick, then went on to St Lucia before landing in Trinidad just before 4.00 pm (local time).

Piarco International Airport was alerted by the Barbados-based Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), via the Advance Passenger Information database that contains a complete list of persons, including crew and passengers on the flight including their biographic data and carrier information.

A memo send to airport staff read “Please be advised that (01) Person of Interest (POI) was detected via JRCC on Flight BA 2159 which departed London Gatwick (LGW) at 0910 hours on 07 August 2014 and is scheduled to arrive in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago ( POS) at 1550 hours on 07 August 2014. Traveler is a high risk for Ebola Virus and has been referred for admissibility assessment. Please provide the results of the examination at the port of entry when they become available.”

But the Principal Medical Officer here, Dr. Collin Furlonge told Trinidad’s TV6 News Thursday night that the passenger was a Nigerian doctor living in London.

“We have sent personnel to go and confirm the information. But there seems to be little or no risk at all,” he said, adding that the passenger was eventually cleared, because he had not been to Africa in years.

TV6 News reported that the passengers were not allowed to disembark the plane, while the Nigerian passenger was taken into isolation.

Port Health workers were on standby before the plane even landed. Other airport workers had been asked to stay within a certain part of the airport, the report added.

On Wednesday, the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) said the risk of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported to the Caribbean remained 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,” said CARPHA executive director, Dr. C. James Hospedales.

He said that in countries where the virus is present, “people who have direct contact with the organs, blood, or other bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals are those at greatest risk”.

CARPHA said it had evaluated the risk of importation of the disease to the Caribbean following an increase in the number of cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

IMAGE: PIARCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TRINIDAD (CREDIT: FLICKR)

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbean360.com/news/passenger-flagged-as-suspected-ebola-carrier-causes-major-scare-at-trinidad-airport?utm_source=Caribbean360%20Newsletters&utm_campaign=f435301f5b-8_8_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_350247989a-f435301f5b-39393477

Related story:

That guy who everyone thought had Ebola in new york doesn’t actually have it

By Lauren F Friedman From Business Insider

The Mount Sinai patient who made New York City news when the hospital announced he was being tested for Ebola turns out not to have the disease, Mount Sinai confirmed in a statement today.

Here is the hospital’s statement in full:

We would like to report that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the patient kept in isolation since Monday, August 4, 2014 at The Mount Sinai Hospital has tested negative for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The patient is in stable condition, is improving, and remains in the care of our physicians and nurses.

The unidentified male patient captured the attention of much of New York City when he showed up in the emergency room on August 4 with “high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms” after a recent trip to West Africa, triggering standard protocols to test for Ebola.

Mount Sinai’s chief medical officer said in a press conference that “odds are it’s not Ebola,” and the New York City Health Department announced that “the patient is unlikely to have Ebola,” so the negative test result is somewhat expected.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and often bleeding. The current outbreak, centered in West Africa, has led to 1,711 suspected and confirmed cases and 932 deaths.

IMAGE: mount mt sinai hospital emergency room er sign ebola Katie Jennings / Business Insider

For more on this story go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-mt-sinai-patient-tests-negative-for-ebola-2014-8#ixzz39pQcZ2RZ