The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

FNM DEPUTY Chairman Dr Duane Sands yesterday accused the government of being “slow” to execute an effective policy to minimise the risk of the Ebola virus reaching our shores.

Dr Sands, who is also a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, said the possibility of a person who has been exposed to Ebola who then travels to the Bahamas is “remote” but real.

He said while many countries have instituted precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the virus there has been no proactive strategy implemented in this country. However public health officials have maintained there are protocols in place to identify people with the virus and properly isolate and treat them.

“The Bahamas has been slow to execute an effective policy at our borders,” Dr Sands said.

“If there has been significant planning, the general public can neither see it nor feel that we are adequately prepared for such a possibility. It certainly appears that the degree of national preparedness is a well kept secret despite tremendous international and local concern.

“The Ebola virus is endemic in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. There has been localised transmission in Nigeria. There have been documented travel-associated cases in the United States and Senegal.

“The Bahamas survives on its appeal as a tourist destination. We would benefit from an expertly considered, evidence-based approach to the global threat.”

Dr Sands said one of the options for intervention include the creation of a questionnaire for all international passengers who arrive in the Bahamas. Questions could include details of travel to countries currently experiencing active cases of the virus.

He added that selected index passengers could be directed to undergo digital temperature screening and brief further questioning.

He said the Bahamas should “lead the region in the planning and execution of an effective strategy to address this public health matter”.