Ebola alert in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: All public and private hospitals and clinics nationwide have been put on high alert for Ebola, one of the world's most virulent diseases.
Doctors who come across Ebola cases or its symptoms – vomiting, diarrhoea, high fever, liver and kidney failure – must notify the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who issued the directive yesterday, said medical practitioners must notify the authorities under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Although no Ebola case has been reported in Malaysia, he said, the ministry is on high alert due to cases being reported in other countries.
"We have enhanced our surveillance system at all international entry points into the country and preparations have been made to handle potential infectious cases, including Ebola," he said.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness, with a fatality rate of up to 90%. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.
Yesterday, Sierra Leone declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak while the United Nations said more than 670 people in West Africa have died of Ebola since February – with 224 deaths in Sierra Leone.
A total of 1,201 confirmed cases were reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Ethiopia and Kenya have begun screening all passengers arriving from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and many nations have warned their citizens against travelling to West Africa.
The outbreak – the world's deadliest to date – was first reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In the latest development, a person who travelled from Liberia to Nigeria died of the virus shortly after arriving in Lagos last week.
Noor Hisham said he has directed all ministry staff at national, state and district levels to look out for people, especially those who travelled from countries reporting Ebola cases, with symptoms of the disease and notify the authorities concerned immediately.
"We want to put in place all preventive measures and contain the spread of the infection by isolating the suspected victims," he said, adding that isolation wards will be set up at government hospitals.
The Institute for Medical Research, he said, has the facilities to detect Ebola, and all states have sufficient stock of personal protection equipment and medications to handle an outbreak.
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organisation has reportedly held talks with global health officials on potential measures to halt the spread of the disease.
Fears that the outbreak in west Africa could spread to other continents grew on Wednesday, with European and Asian countries on alert and a leading medical charity warning the epidemic was out of control.
Doctors Without Borders said the crisis gripping Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone would only get worse and warned there was no overarching strategy to handle the world's worst outbreak of the disease.
Hong Kong has announced quarantine measures for suspected cases, although one woman arriving from Africa with possible symptoms tested negative.
Thai health authorities have also ordered all hospitals to monitor patients for any symptoms, particularly tourists who had been in the outbreak area.