KINGSTON (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is urging Jamaican health officials not to create panic in the public domain regarding the deadly Ebola virus.
PAHO’s disease prevention and control advisor, Dr Kam Mung, says increased surveillance is effective and that option must be pursued.
“It is important to have heightened surveillance to know what is happening but it is very import to avoid panic. The protection mainly is the basic level of infection control like hygiene, use of personal protective equipment to avoid direct contact with blood and body fluids that is very important . . . .” he said in a radio interview broadcast.
Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson says the situation is being closely monitored based on Jamaica’s open borders and as a result steps will be taken to prevent a possible spread.
According to Ferguson, based on the warning, Jamaica’s preparedness must be addressed.
The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) said several measures must be implemented for Jamaica to handle the disease.
“We have to be conscious of people who may directly or indirectly come from West Africa or travel through West Africa to come to Jamaica from West Africa. So a process has to be set up at our ports to identify any such person and put them in quarantine and of course,” said the JLPs spokesman on health, Dr Ken Baugh. ?
