preparedness measures for ebola virus disease workshop on strengthening ebola preparedness and joint...
TRANSCRIPT
Preparedness Measures for
Ebola Virus Disease
Workshop on Strengthening Ebola Preparedness and Joint Response among ASEAN+3 FETN member countries1-3 Dec 2014, Bangkok
Our Approach to Combating EVD
I. Minimise the risk of infection
II. Early detection of suspect cases in Singapore
III. Prevent/minimise local spread in the event of an imported case
1. Suspect Case– A person with a fever (>38⁰C) or current history of
fever AND has been in countries with reported EVD activity (currently Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali) within the past 21 days, OR
– A person with fever (>38⁰C) or current history of fever AND has had exposure to a confirmed or suspect case of EVD within the past 21 days.
2. Confirmed Case– A case with laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus
infection.
Case definition
I. Minimising Risk
• General advisory to the public and companies on the postponement of non-essential travel, and specific advisory on precautionary actions to be taken to minimise risk of infection
• Health Advisory Posters (HAPs) at airport for outbound travellers
• Temporary visa requirements for nationals from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for entry into Singapore
II. Early Detection of Cases
• Health Advisory Posters (HAPs) and individual Health Advisory Notices (HANs) for inbound travellers at all checkpoints
• Temperature screening upon arrival covers travellers from West Africa, of whom 80% transit in the Middle East
• Nationals and self-declared travellers from Ebola-affected African countries will be directed to a screening station− Screened for fever;− Requested to complete a Health Declaration Card (with contact
information); and− Administered a questionnaire to assess for the risk of exposure to Ebola
• Those with fever will be sent to dedicated hospital for further assessment and testing
• Those who are well but assessed to have a risk of exposure to Ebola will be kept under phone surveillance or quarantine for up to 21 days
II. Early Detection of Cases
• Inclusion of Ebola as notifiable diseases under the Infectious Diseases Act
• Circulars to doctors and hospitals to raise awareness, provide guidelines and protocols on infection control and management of suspect and confirmed cases of Ebola
• Visits to hospitals and preparedness exercises are being conducted to ensure that they are well-prepared and adequately resourced for case management
III. Preventing/Minimising Local Spread in Event of Imported Case
• Centralised management of cases (designated
wards)
• Ebola virus testing by laboratory
• Close monitoring of every suspect cases
• Contact tracing and quarantine operations are
in place
Harmonization of PPE
• Guidance on PPE for healthcare workers and staff
in acute hospitals and primary care settings
• PPE guidance has also been adapted to non-
healthcare settings
• Work with relevant agencies (whole of government
approach) to promulgate the PPE
recommendations to relevant staff.
Public Communications
• Dedicated webpage for EVD on the MOH
website
• Press releases on measures implemented to
safeguard against outbreaks− Raising the awareness and knowledge of
travellers about the potential risk of diseases;
− Increasing public confidence.
• Interviews by subject experts with the media
Risk Assessment• Widespread and intense transmission continues in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone.
• There is low travel connectivity between Singapore and West Africa, where widespread and intense transmission remains limited to.
• As such, the risk of the spread of the disease to Singapore is currently assessed to be low.
• Local transmission from an imported case can be prevented with early identification and isolation of a patient, quarantine of close contacts and strict infection control measures.
Thank you