The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A TASK force on the deadly Ebola virus, comprised of several government ministers and key personnel from various government departments, met yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister, the government said.

The meeting comes as the Christie administration faces mounting criticism over its Ebola preparedness plans. The government did not reveal what was discussed at that meeting, but reportedly gave ZNS News “exclusive” access. Yesterday Bahamas Information Services released photos from the meeting with a brief caption, but provided no details to private media houses.

Prime Minister Perry Christie, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez, State Minister of Legal Affairs Damian Gomez and Aviation and Transport Minister Glenys Hanna Martin among others were all present at the meeting.

Public Hospital Authority Managing Director Herbert Brown also attended the meeting.

The meeting comes just days after government health officials said the Bahamas had decided not to close its ports to travellers from infected areas, instead opting to increase awareness of workers stationed at the ports and educating them on the disease.

It also comes after recent criticisms of the government by members of the Free National Movement and the Democratic National Alliance regarding the government’s “laid back” approach to implementing preventative measures for tackling the Ebola virus.

Last week The Tribune revealed portions of the Ministry of Health’s 51-page Ebola Preparedness and Response Plan.

In the report is a brief section addressing port surveillance, which requires medical officers to be on call and to be accessible 24 hours a day. It does not call for screenings of travellers at ports of entry, however.

FNM Chairman Darron Cash on Sunday said he didn’t think the country is ready for an Ebola case, despite the assurances from health officials.

Yesterday in a press statement, DNA Deputy leader Chris Mortimer further criticized the government for its handling of the Ebola threat.

“Instead of providing clarity on the way forward, the minister (of health) has left even more unanswered questions,” Mr Mortimer said. “His most recent update statement on the Ebola virus and its implications, was yet another wasted opportunity for the government who, instead of providing details of its plan and when implementation of said plan would occur, he simply regurgitated facts about the disease which could be acquired by a simple Google search.”

Additionally, residents are also becoming increasingly concerned due to the country’s accessibility and lack of Ebola screenings at ports of entry.

Ebola is a deadly virus that is acquired by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected human or animal.

This year’s outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is the largest in history, with officials confirming recently that the pace of infection had accelerated.

According to the World Health Organization, the West African epidemic could infect more than 20,000 people and spread to 10 countries.

Since March, the disease has spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal in Africa. However yesterday, Nigeria was declared Ebola-free by the WHO after a 42-day period with no new cases.

The disease has also been documented in the United States, according to the US Centres for Disease Control.

Thomas Duncan, after entering the US from Liberia, died in Dallas, Texas from the disease. Two nurses who cared for Mr Duncan, have subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Dr Glen Beneby, chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health, on Friday said every island is ready to deal with Ebola, although there are different levels of readiness among the islands.