Ebola Declared International Emergency: Experts Highlight Risk of Transmission from Pilgrims and Travellers
Researcher Dicky Budiman stated that the government does not need to completely close the country’s borders following the declaration of the Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to him, the main focus should be on strengthening surveillance for transmission, especially among pilgrims and travellers, as well as international travellers.
“The government does not need to carry out total border closures, but the standards for strengthening or having screening at entry points must maintain quality and management,” said Dicky when contacted on Sunday (17/5).
He emphasized that epidemiological surveillance at various international entry points must be tightened, including at airports, ports, migration routes, as well as for pilgrims who are potentially a highly mobile group.
Epidemiological surveillance at international entry points such as airports, ports, migration routes, pilgrims, and international travellers from Africa must be closely monitored and maintained from now on.
In addition to monitoring international mobility, the government is also asked to ensure that risk-based screening runs optimally, especially for travellers with a history of visits in the last 21 days who show certain symptoms.
Furthermore, it is important to ensure that risk-based screening focuses on travel history within 21 days with acute fever, bleeding, or contact with Ebola patients, and exposure to wildlife should also be screened.
The strengthening of preparedness within the country is also considered important, starting from laboratory readiness to patient management systems and health workers.
For strengthening within the country, it must ensure the readiness of BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories, as well as PCR Filovirus capabilities with rapid diagnostics, and of course, a biohazard specimen transport system.
In addition, the readiness of referral hospitals is also needed, which should include outbreak simulations, Infection Prevention and Control audits, the availability of PPE and negative pressure isolation rooms, and refresher training for health workers.
“Because many lessons were learned during the pandemic, countries failed not because the virus was too strong, but actually because the health system reacted too late,” he said.
Dicky also reminded that handling Ebola needs to use a one health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental aspects.
Dicky added that when talking about Ebola, the approach is one health, just like dealing with hantavirus and Covid-19 cases, which is an approach to environmental, human, and animal health.
“Because Ebola is not only a problem for humans, but it is also related to deforestation, logging, habitat fragmentation, interaction between humans and animals, wildlife trade, climate change, and exploitation of mines and tropical forests,” he said.
Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a PHEIC. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recorded 13 confirmed cases of Ebola. In addition, 246 unconfirmed cases have been identified, while local authorities are still investigating possible deaths related to the outbreak, which amount to 65 people. (E-4)
The GOVERNMENT has started preparing anticipatory steps regarding the potential spread of the Ebola outbreak through international travel routes.