Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will conduct drills on Wednesday at the Taoyuan International Airport to handle possible cases of the Ebola virus entering Taiwan.
The drill is being held in light of the recent breakout of the deadly virus in parts of West Africa. CDC’s Deputy Director Chou Jih-haw explained the importance of the drill.
“The main focus of the drill is in the treatment and transport of the patient. The transportation deals with the protection of the patient and medical personnel involved. At the same time, the route from which the patient will be transported cannot affect other passengers. The possibility of transmitting the virus would have to be reduced to a minimum,” said Chou.
Any passengers entering Taiwan with a fever, or suffering from diarrhea or hemorrhage, will be sent to a hospital and put in a pressurized isolation ward for tests and observation. Chou said Taiwan’s current protocol is isolation and supportive therapy in dealing with such a virus.
Chou said besides Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in West Africa, Taiwan is most concerned about the situation in Nigeria. That’s because it has the highest population in Africa and many people travel to and from that country.
Of the 13 confirmed cases in Nigeria, only the first one was contracted from Liberia. The other 12 have been medical personnel who contracted the virus from coming in contact with the first victim. There are so far no cases originating from Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry is monitoring whether to raise the travel alert to Nigeria. Foreign Minister David Lin said Taiwan has about 100 businesspersons in Nigeria, mostly in the port city of Lagos. So far none of them are affected. Lin said the government will keep close watch of the situation there and stay in close contact with the representative office in Nigeria.
The foreign ministry has upgraded the travel alert for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to “red” under its four-color travel alert system. This means Taiwanese nationals should avoid going to the three nations at all costs.