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Samoa’s Health Ministry and DoH address Ebola

Samoa’s Health Ministry continues to monitor the Ebola outbreak, which started in West Africa, where the death toll passed 4,000 in the World Health Organization's count of confirmed and suspected Ebola cases, while in American Samoa, the Department of Health meets with the governor and legislators.

 

In the U.S. one death due to Ebola was confirmed this week in Texas and Ebola screening is being implemented at five major U.S. airports with direct flights from West African countries.

 

In Samoa the country’s Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri told reporters this week in Apia that the Health Ministry continues to monitor Ebola at its port of entry. For example, he said that delegates from the African continent who attended last months S.I.D.S. conference were closely monitored for Ebola.

 

Leausa said the important issue at this point is to have a special area designated at the Faleolo International Airport to screen and question arriving passengers with possible symptoms of Ebola. From the airport, a person who shows symptoms would than taken to the hospital for further medical review, he said, adding that while there are no confirmed cases in the region, Samoa must be prepared.

 

Also important, he said, is that people are aware of the symptoms of Ebola, which is deadly, and how to protect people in Samoa, because this disease can spread if preventive measures are not adhered to.

 

He is thankful that Polynesian Airlines no longer has direct flights between Samoa and the U.S.; however, there are other foreigners carriers that operate to the U.S. with stops in Samoa.

 

Additionally, there are close ties and flights between Samoa and American Samoa, where there is an outbreak of Chikungunya, which later spread to Samoa.  (See yesterday’s Samoa News-Lali section for the original Samoan story in “Tala Mai Samoa”)

 

Last month Samoa’s Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the World Health Organization issued a communiqué saying that the risk of Ebola reaching Pacific islands “remains low”, the Apia-based Samoa Observer reports.

 

“Currently there are no direct flights from Ebola affected areas [in Africa] to Samoa. However, many of our people travel widely, such as sporting bodies and government officials, even into Africa,” the communiqué says. “Hence this advisory update which the public is advised to take close notice of and ensure safety during travel.”

 

EBOLA PREP IN AMERICAN SAMOA

 

Although contingency plans in American Samoa don’t appear to be as advanced as those in Samoa, local Health Department officials met yesterday with Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga to discussed the Ebola issue but details of the meeting weren’t immediately available at press time.

 

During a senate hearing last month, Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua told senators that DOH has been directed by the governor to work with LBJ Medical Center “and our other partners to come up with a plan on how to handle our borders if this (Ebola) gets closer to American Samoa.

 

“If the need requires, to close our borders, we will consult with the governor for an emergency declaration that a health situation exists and that the Fono will be consulted as well,” he said.

 

The same information was relayed to House members during a hearing this week and that DOH continues to be in contact with Health officials in the region as well as the federal government and WHO.

 

More details, data and other Ebola information online:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html