Download Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

Preparedness Measures
for
Ebola Virus Disease
Workshop on Strengthening Ebola Preparedness and Joint
Response among ASEAN+3 FETN member countries
1-3 Dec 2014, Bangkok
Our Approach to Combating EVD
I. Minimise the risk of infection
II. Early detection of suspect cases in Singapore
III. Prevent/minimise local spread in the event of
an imported case
Case definition
1. Suspect Case
– A person with a fever (>38⁰C) or current history of
fever AND has been in countries with reported EVD
activity (currently Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Mali) within the past 21 days, OR
– A person with fever (>38⁰C) or current history of fever
AND has had exposure to a confirmed or suspect
case of EVD within the past 21 days.
2. Confirmed Case
– A case with laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus
infection.
I. Minimising Risk
• General advisory to the public and companies on
the postponement of non-essential travel, and
specific advisory on precautionary actions to be
taken to minimise risk of infection
• Health Advisory Posters (HAPs)
at airport for outbound travellers
• Temporary visa requirements
for nationals from Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone for
entry into Singapore
II. Early Detection of Cases
•
•
•
Health Advisory Posters (HAPs) and individual Health Advisory
Notices (HANs) for inbound travellers at all checkpoints
Temperature screening upon arrival covers travellers from
West Africa, of whom 80% transit in the Middle East
Nationals and self-declared travellers from Ebola-affected
African countries will be directed to a screening station
−
−
−
Screened for fever;
Requested to complete a Health Declaration Card (with contact
information); and
Administered a questionnaire to assess for the risk of exposure to Ebola
• Those with fever will be sent to dedicated hospital for further
assessment and testing
• Those who are well but assessed to have a risk of exposure to
Ebola will be kept under phone surveillance or quarantine for up
to 21 days
II. Early Detection of Cases
• Inclusion of Ebola as notifiable diseases
under the Infectious Diseases Act
• Circulars to doctors and hospitals to raise
awareness, provide guidelines and protocols
on infection control and management of
suspect and confirmed cases of Ebola
• Visits to hospitals and preparedness
exercises are being conducted to ensure that
they are well-prepared and adequately
resourced for case management
III. Preventing/Minimising Local Spread
in Event of Imported Case
•
Centralised
management
of
cases
(designated wards)
•
Ebola virus testing by laboratory
•
Close monitoring of every suspect cases
•
Contact tracing and quarantine operations are
in place
Harmonization of PPE
• Guidance on PPE for healthcare workers and staff
in acute hospitals and primary care settings
• PPE guidance has also been adapted to nonhealthcare settings
• Work with relevant agencies (whole of
government approach) to promulgate the PPE
recommendations to relevant staff.
Public Communications
• Dedicated webpage for EVD on the MOH
website
• Press releases on measures implemented to
safeguard against outbreaks
− Raising the awareness and knowledge of
travellers about the potential risk of diseases;
− Increasing public confidence.
• Interviews by subject experts with the media
Risk Assessment
• Widespread and intense transmission continues in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone.
• There is low travel connectivity between Singapore and
West Africa, where widespread and intense transmission
remains limited to.
• As such, the risk of the spread of the disease to Singapore
is currently assessed to be low.
• Local transmission from an imported case can be prevented
with early identification and isolation of a patient, quarantine
of close contacts and strict infection control measures.
Thank you