Pursuant to directions of federal government, Punjab Health department has prepared a comprehensive plan to control possible Ebola virus outbreak that played havoc in Africa. Precautionary arrangements have been launched at airports to screen passengers who are expected to come by various flights from Ebola-hit countries.
According to sources, passengers from affected areas will be asked to fill up a form mentioning whether they have shown any symptoms related to Ebola. They would also be made to pass through a thermal scanner and anybody who has temperatures above the normal temperature - showing signs of fever - will be quarantined. A separate screening area has also been set up at the airport. The provincial governments have been asked to set up special isolation units on airports to deal with Ebola patients, all passengers to be screened on all entrance and exit points.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed various steps to control possible Ebola virus outbreak. Shahbaz directed concerned authorities to take all necessary measures in this regard. He also emphasised the need for proper arrangements at airports for screening of passengers. He said that awareness drive may be launched to sensitise public about the virus.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief, Dr Margaret Chan has termed Ebola outbreak a crisis for international peace. It may be noted that over 4000 people have died from the Ebola virus, mainly in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Disease symptoms with Ebola virus are headache, joint and muscle aches, coughing, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and bleeding inside and outside the body. According to health experts, there is no treatment for Ebola and only supportive therapy available for patients. Scientists are still scrambling to identify why majority of people infected with Ebola die and a very few have survival. On the other hand, several countries of the World are also curtailing flight operations to Ebola affected countries.