The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) told RTC News that they are continuing with their stringent efforts to evaluate and manage any case of the Ebola virus, in the unlikely event a case occurs in the Territory, it announced today, Monday, 6 October 2014.
“We are aware that the single case of Ebola diagnosed in the USA is of concern there, and also the Caribbean Region,” said Charlene Higgs, Health Educator with the TCI MOHHS. “However, our health professionals have been preparing to respond since the outbreak began.
She added that “The TCI MOHHS efforts are ongoing, and includes stakeholder meetings which are being planned across the islands to help adequately prepare for the potential threat of Ebola. The team at the MOHHS are following the updates on the local, regional and international circuit as to the status of the disease & will share with the general public as the situation develops.
“Although travel to the affected region is not restricted, the MOHHS strongly discourages non-essential travel to Ebola affected areas in West Africa at this time because of the extent of the current virus outbreak. The MOHHS further advises that anyone returning to the TCI from such areas may be subjected to Ebola screening and possible isolation for 21 days as a part of TCI’s enhanced surveillance of this virus”.
The MOHHS is continuing to take the lead in ensuring the public health and safety of the TCI citizens and visitors through:
* Enhanced surveillance and laboratory testing capacity to facilitate early detection of cases
* Developing and or disseminating guidance and tools for health facilities to conduct public health investigations
* Providing recommendations for healthcare infection control and other measures and to ensure health care workers take precautions to use meticulous infection control at all times to prevent disease spread.
* Providing guidance for Customs and Immigration officers about detecting, transporting and reporting ill travellers to the MOHHS
* Disseminating up-to-date information to the general public, international travellers, and public health stakeholders and partners
In addition, the MOHHS would like to advise all persons with a history of recent travel to affected countries to be aware of the signs and symptoms of EVD and to report to a healthcare provider as soon as possible if signs and symptoms of EVD develop within three weeks of having traveled. The MOHHS also encourages the general public to take the following precautions:
* Practice good personal hygiene at all times
* Be aware of the risk factors of Ebola (travel to affected countries, contact with bodily fluids of affected persons)
* Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Ebola
* Seek medical attention early
RTC will have more on this story as it develops locally.
