The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and director of public health have moved to reassure the public that the risk from ebola remains very low in the island.
Director of public health Dr Parameswaran Kishore said: ‘I would like to reassure the public that we have taken steps to ensure that we are fully prepared for any suspected ebola cases in the Isle of Man. However. I must emphasise that the ebola outbreak in West Africa poses a very minimal risk to the Isle of Man and the chances of importing a case on to the island are very low, with the risk of an outbreak here virtually zero.
‘It is important to remember that since 1994 there have been ebola outbreaks every year in sub-Saharan Africa – so this year’s outbreak is not unexpected – it is the scale of the outbreak that is posing a significant challenge.’
A DHSC statement also said that the risk from the deadly disease remains very low in the Isle of Man and that the island’s health services are prepared.
‘Only those who have recently visited one of the affected countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia) and who have been in contact with patients with ebola are at risk,’ said the statement.
‘Ebola is caused by a virus which is transmitted when an individual comes into direct contact with bodily fluid (blood, sweat, saliva etc); it is not airborne.
‘The department is fully prepared to deal with any suspected cases of ebola. Detailed information has been circulated to all clinicians in the Isle of Man advising when to suspect ebola and how to deal with it; travel history is extremely important.
‘The department’s Public Health Directorate maintains close contact with Public Health England and the World Health Organisation.’