Basseterre, St. Kitts - The Ministry of Health, St. Kitts and Nevis, wishes to inform the general public that health officials on both islands continue to closely monitor the international Ebola situation in conjunction with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Global Alert and Response Network of the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the November 7th situation update from the WHO, the worst affected countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia) continue to have widespread and intense transmission.
The situation in the least affected countries is encouraging:
1. Spain – One (1) case of a health care worker who tested negative for a second time on 21 October. All 83 contacts have completed the 21-day follow-up period. Spain will therefore be declared free of EVD 42 days after the date of the second negative test if no new cases are reported.
2. USA – Four (4) cases, one (1) death. Of a total of 177 possible contacts, 161 have completed the 21-day follow-up period without incident, and 16 are being monitored.
3. Mali – One (1) imported case; deceased. 108 contacts are being monitored.
The risk of virus entry into the Federation is low because of travel restrictions imposed on the worst affected countries and strong public health measures applied in the least affected countries.
Notwithstanding, readiness activities continue in high gear led by the Ministries of Health, with the coordination of the National Disaster Mitigation Council (NDMC) and support of external partners.
A shipment of approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is expected shortly. Training in PPE donning and doffing continues under the supervision of certified local trainers. Port isolation and quarantine facilities are undergoing retrofitting. Notwithstanding the fact the both hospitals have isolation units and essential supplies for Ebola treatment, Cabinet will soon make a final decision regarding the location of an all-hazards treatment center for the Federation.
On Monday November 10th, three health care workers from the Federation (St. Kitts - one doctor and one nurse; Nevis - one nurse) travelled to Cuba for one week of intense training in the clinical management of Ebola-affected persons. While there, they will also tour and study the set-up of a treatment center. On behalf of the government, the Ministry of Health expresses gratitude to the OECS Secretariat and the government of Cuba for their generous and timely assistance.
Residents should continue to remain calm and to obtain information from authoritative sources such as Doctors Without Borders, PAHO/WHO, CARPHA, the US CDC and the Ministry of Health.
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