Despite advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that travel bans and visa restrictions should not be imposed on countries where the Ebola virus is most rampant, officials are currently seeking legal advice on whether or not T&T can introduce these measures. Revealing this during a press briefing yesterday, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said the suggestion was put before the Cabinet on Thursday.
He said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was charged with the responsibility of exploring the legality and the repercussions of such a move. Addressing reporters at the ministry in Port-of-Spain, Khan said the WHO had indicated there were to be no travel restrictions placed on countries where outbreaks had been reported, as this was not in keeping with international protocols and best practices. Given the deadly effects of the virus, Khan said concerns were raised at Thursday’s meeting.
However, he admitted there was a need to determine what international treaties and agreements would be violated if government were to go ahead with this action, which Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar had approved in principle and pending Ramlogan’s findings.
Assuring citizens that “Ebola as it is now, is not in T&T,” Khan said government had to adopt proactive measures to prevent the importation of the virus, and that it was to this end that Persad Bissessar had given him “full rein” to deal with it. Acknowledging that Ebola was no longer confined to West Africa and had begun spreading to other countries like the US and Spain, Khan said, “That makes us vulnerable.”
He added, “The only way the Ebola virus can enter our community is through international travel.” Khan also revealed that the authorities had revised the entry health form to be filled out by arriving passengers, and were also awaiting Ramlogan’s legal opinion before it is introduced.
Faced with the possibility that a passenger may withhold crucial information from the authorities and may be tempted to lie on the form, Khan said, “That is something we can’t deal with. At the end of the day, we are just hoping that people will be truthful on the form, based on the panic that can result from not doing this.”
“T&T is on emergency alert for Ebola because one case in T&T that is not handled correctly, can spread very fast and also have a detrimental effect on the population,” he continued. “This is not something that is going to give you a cough and cold, this is something that is going to kill people and in some cases, 90 per cent fatality and 50 per cent sometimes if treated.”
Chief medical officer Dr Colin Furlonge spoke of the effects of 9/11 on global travel, as he said, “We foresee that Ebola may well change it yet again.” The travel form requests information about an individual’s travel patterns within the last six weeks before arriving in T&T, the countries visited, the reason for the visit, and their interactions while abroad.
Furlonge said the ministry had embarked on an aggressive public education campaign with the production of posters and pamphlets because, “We want persons to know exactly what they need to know so they don’t expose themselves and they don’t create rumours and don’t start a panic. It is critically important that the one thing you don’t do when you are handling something like this, is create panic. Panic will undo everything. Panic will prevent you from acting appropriately.”
Assuring that the National Operations Centre (NOC) had increased security and surveillance at all legal and illegal ports of entry, Furlonge reiterated that Ebola could only be imported into the country. Appealing to everyone’s sense of patriotism, Furlonge said, “One has to recognise that with Ebola, one has to put country first. You have to be patriotic and recognise that we are not just preparing for anything, but also preventing a diabolical epidemic.”
Explaining that the virus had begun transmitting from animals to humans more and more, owing to deforestation and closer contact between the species, Furlonge said there had been over 8,000 cases recorded across West Africa, of which more than 50 per cent had been fatal.
Head of the NOC Garvin Heerah said a training course will get under way from Monday, during which security forces will also be trained in how to deal with anyone suspected of suffering from the virus. Customs and immigration officers are also being trained. Heerah warned that T&T was “at an escalated alert,” as he said foreign missions had also been urged to implement stringent security measures and increased vigilance.
Responding to the question of whether T&T was prepared for the Ebola virus, Khan responded, “We are as ready as we can be at this point in time.”
...No plans to stop Carnival
Carnival celebrations for 2015 are set to go ahead as normal. But Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has warned again that this could change as the season approaches. He said it would depend on several factors, including the local and global situation surrounding the Ebola virus. Khan made the statements as he addressed reporters during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health, Port-of-Spain, to update the nation on the measures to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.
Denying claims that chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Allison Demas had called for the Government to cancel the event, Khan assured, “There are absolutely no plans by Cabinet or the Government to deal with the stopping of Carnival as I speak.” Demas was reported to have made the call because of the continuing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has now spread to Spain and the US.
Seeking to clarify what Demas actually said, Khan told reporters, “She has not said that (Carnival should be cancelled). What she had indicated is that it is a prerogative of the Ministry of Health and the Cabinet and is something that should be looked at.” For now, Khan said, “We will be looking at the movement of travellers for Carnival. Once things are put in place and it remains contained in West Africa and internationally, that won’t be necessary. It may be something to look at in the future.”
Khan said the National Operations Centre (NOC) was helping to collate information on where the majority of Carnival visitors came from. “One has to look at the international escalation of the virus and where it is occurring in various parts of the world. “All these things must be considered prior to making a decision about stopping one of the major festivals of the country.”
Key points
• Khan assures no Ebola in T&T
• Country on escalated alert
• T&T to consider banning people travelling from countries with Ebola
• Increased surveillance at ports of entry
• Revised forms to be filled out by passengers
• Major public education campaign to start
• Protective services to be trained to deal with • Ebola suspects
• Govt acquiring hazmat suits