BY LOH FOON FONG, WANI MUTHIAH, AND D. KANYAKUMARI
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has included Ebola screening for those arriving from the Philippines, the United States and Britain.
Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the screening and monitoring had already started.
He said the measures were enforced following reports that five of 15 Filipinos who recently arrived from Sierra Leone were placed under observation while the rest were tested negative of the dreaded disease.
Dr Noor Hisham said that while the outbreak currently seemed focused in West Africa, the World Health Organization had cautioned member states to heighten their preparedness for any eventuality.
“The ministry has activated preparatory measures at major entry points and health institutions,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said effective hygiene and infection control procedures, including strict adherence on appropriate personal protective equipment and isolation measures, would go a long way in controlling the spread of the disease.
WHO reported that between July 31 and Aug 1, 163 new Ebola cases – laboratory-confirmed, probable and suspect cases – and 61 deaths were reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Deputy Health director-general (public health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said his department was working closely with the Immigration Department to monitor those coming from the affected countries.
He said health officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport would carry out physical examination on suspected cases and those who fit the case definition stipulated by WHO would be quarantined and sent to the designated hospital.
Sungai Buloh Hospital medical department head and consultant infectious diseases physician Datuk Dr Christopher Lee said there were no anti-virals that had proven to be effective in treating Ebola but supportive care would be provided to help patients.
“The mortality rate is very high but with better supportive care, the chance of recovery is better,” he said.
Latest updates on the disease can be found on the ministry’s website or the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/kkmcprc.
Measures put in place at entry points
KLANG: Various measures are being initiated at all point of entries in the country to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the country.
In Port Klang, a meeting involving all the port operators and the relevant authorities would be held tomorrow to discuss the precautionary measures to be taken by the industry in dealing with the possibility of an Ebola outbreak.
Northport (Malaysia) Bhd CEO Abi Sofian Abdul Hamid said his organisation would monitor the situation through the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation’s websites.
Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Datuk Captain David Padman said the port’s health office is monitoring ships coming from the affected countries.
At the Penang International Airport, the body temperatures of disembarking passengers are being monitored at the arrival hall with the infrared camera that uses the thermal imaging technology.
Airport senior manager Mohd Ariff Jaafar said international flights coming into PIA include those from Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
In Johor Baru, the state Health Department is also taking steps to checks travellers. State health and environment committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said all entry points into the country here including the airport, shipping ports, the Causeway and the Second Link, would be ready to conduct checks for the virus.
24 Malaysians in Liberia to be moved to Ghana
PETALING JAYA: Twenty-four Malaysians currently living in Liberia will be transported to Ghana as a precautionary measure in view of the worsening Ebola virus outbreak in the country.
Wisma Putra consulate division secretary Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob said all of them are workers at a plantation that is owned by a Malaysian based in Liberia.
He said the order has been issued for the workers to be transported out of Liberia to Ghana with the help of Malaysian High Commission in Accra.
“All the 24 workers are expected to be moved tomorrow. However, it will depend on their visa application which is being handled by our high commission in Accra,” he said yesterday.
The workers, he said, would be temporarily based in Ghana until a final decision is made by their company’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, he said when contacted by mStar Online.
On a suggestion that Malaysia halt issuing visas to people coming from the affected areas, Zulkifli said it was not necessary for the time being because the number of arrivals was very small.
Furthermore, he said, there was no direct flight from any of the areas to Malaysia.
He said the move would only be taken if it was directed by the Health Ministry with the agreement of the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department.
In a related development, officials have stepped up surveillance on travellers arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
KLIA health office chief Dr Haji Azmi Haji Abdul Rahim said there was a body temperature scanner at the arrival hall.
“The device will detect anyone with a temperature above 37.5°C,” he said.
“For Ebola, we will first see if they have a fever, then once we have them in the quarantine centre we will start to rule out the symptoms,” he said.
Azmi said that in cases where aircraft crew members detected sick passengers prior to arrival, they would first have to inform the captain.
“The captain will contact the control tower, which will then speak to the quarantine centre,” he said.
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