Jamaica has no confirmed cases of Ebola, the Ministry of Health and Wellness said Saturday, while revealing that eight passengers who recently arrived on flights linked to Ebola-affected countries have been placed under mandatory self-quarantine.
The ministry said the individuals were identified through enhanced surveillance measures at the island’s ports of entry. None has shown symptoms associated with the virus.
According to the ministry, the eight passengers received counselling at airport health desks and are being monitored by their respective health departments.
“Importantly, all eight passengers have not manifested any symptoms associated with Ebola, therefore transmission is not likely, and therefore there is no risk as it relates to the other passengers on these flights,” the ministry said in a statement.
The advisory follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The ministry said it has intensified health surveillance at ports of entry and is urging Jamaicans and other travellers to review their travel plans and avoid travelling to or transiting through affected countries.
Under the enhanced measures, Jamaicans and travellers arriving in Jamaica who have visited or transited through affected countries within the previous 21 days, but are not showing symptoms, will be required to self-quarantine under the supervision of health authorities. Persons displaying symptoms will be classified as suspected cases and isolated.
The ministry said its port-of-entry surveillance protocol has been strengthened to screen travellers who have visited or transited through Ebola-affected countries during the past 21 days. Persons arriving from affected countries are subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
The ministry also urged members of the public to obtain information about the Ebola outbreak and other health concerns from official and authorized sources.
In a warning against misinformation, the ministry called on “social media users, bloggers, and vloggers” to verify information before sharing it, noting that false reports “can cause unnecessary public anxiety.”
On May 15, the DRC announced an Ebola outbreak. The WHO subsequently declared the outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The WHO has assessed the risk posed by the outbreak as high within the African region but low globally.
As of Friday, there were more than 230 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC and more than 1,000 suspected cases.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease. According to the WHO, the average case fatality rate is about 50 per cent, although previous outbreaks have recorded fatality rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent.
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. Scientists believe the virus originates in wild animals, including fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates.
