Jamaica stories no Ebola instances however eight travellers underneath self-quarantine
Jamaica has no confirmed instances of Ebola, the Ministry of Well being and Wellness stated Saturday, whereas revealing that eight passengers who just lately arrived on flights linked to Ebola-affected international locations have been positioned underneath obligatory self-quarantine.
The ministry stated the people had been recognized by way of enhanced surveillance measures on the island’s ports of entry. None has proven signs related to the virus.
In line with the ministry, the eight passengers obtained counselling at airport well being desks and are being monitored by their respective well being departments.
“Importantly, all eight passengers haven’t manifested any signs related to Ebola, subsequently transmission just isn’t seemingly, and subsequently there is no such thing as a threat because it pertains to the opposite passengers on these flights,” the ministry stated in a press release.
The advisory follows the World Well being Group’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreaks within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Well being Emergency of Worldwide Concern.
The ministry stated it has intensified well being surveillance at ports of entry and is urging Jamaicans and different travellers to overview their journey plans and keep away from travelling to or transiting by way of affected international locations.
Beneath the improved measures, Jamaicans and travellers arriving in Jamaica who’ve visited or transited by way of affected international locations throughout the earlier 21 days, however should not exhibiting signs, can be required to self-quarantine underneath the supervision of well being authorities. Individuals displaying signs can be categorized as suspected instances and remoted.
The ministry stated its port-of-entry surveillance protocol has been strengthened to display travellers who’ve visited or transited by way of Ebola-affected international locations in the course of the previous 21 days. Individuals arriving from affected international locations are topic to obligatory quarantine upon arrival.
The ministry additionally urged members of the general public to acquire details about the Ebola outbreak and different well being considerations from official and approved sources.
In a warning towards misinformation, the ministry referred to as on “social media customers, bloggers, and vloggers” to confirm data earlier than sharing it, noting that false stories “could cause pointless public nervousness.”
On Could 15, the DRC introduced an Ebola outbreak. The WHO subsequently declared the outbreaks within the DRC and Uganda a Public Well being Emergency of Worldwide Concern.
The WHO has assessed the danger posed by the outbreak as excessive throughout the African area however low globally.
As of Friday, there have been greater than 230 confirmed Ebola instances within the DRC and greater than 1,000 suspected instances.
Ebola is a extreme and infrequently deadly viral illness. In line with the WHO, the typical case fatality fee is about 50 per cent, though earlier outbreaks have recorded fatality charges starting from 25 to 90 per cent.
The virus is transmitted by way of direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or different bodily fluids of contaminated folks, in addition to by way of contact with contaminated surfaces and supplies comparable to bedding and clothes. Scientists imagine the virus originates in wild animals, together with fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates.