Ebola virus scare: Experts say Australia is equipped to contain the disease

FEARS a Gold Coast man may have contracted Ebola have incited panic that an outbreak of the deadly virus could hit Australia, but experts say we could handle it.

FEARS a Gold Coast man may have contracted Ebola have incited panic that an outbreak of the deadly virus could hit Australia.

Queensland health authorities have assured it’s extremely unlikely the 27-year-old man has the disease, but experts say even if there was an outbreak on home soil, there would be no need to panic.

MORE: Ebola scare hits Australia

MORE: Australia prepares for Ebola

With “robust border protection systems”, weekly national meetings on national response arrangements to Ebola, and “first rate” infection control mechanisms in hospitals, the Department of Health assures the disease could be contained and would have nowhere near the disastrous impact affected areas in Africa have seen.

A man suspected of having the Ebola virus arrives at Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We have put banners and messaging at our major international airports to raise awareness of the symptoms of Ebola and incoming travellers from the affected countries in West Africa, are personally checked,” a spokeswoman for the department told news.com.au.

“While Ebola is a very serious disease, it is not highly contagious. Ebola is not influenza.

“It is not caught through coughing or sneezing. It is only caught through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.”

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley has advised “there is no epidemic threat in Australia” and “current border procedures are sufficient to deal with any threat”.

State and Territory Chief Health Officers have issued specific guidance to their designated hospitals, paramedic and ambulance workforce, general practice, and state-based quarantine and medical staff.

In the event a suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection is identified in a State or Territory in Australia, there are nationally-endorsed guidelines for public health units to be followed.

When Southport man Michael Walsh was identified by paramedics as ‘having symptoms of Ebola’, he was placed in isolation, and Gold Coast Health acting chief executive Damian Green assured necessary precautions were taken while he was assessed.

Dr John Gerrard addresses the media outside on the Gold Coast. Pic: Glenn Hampson

“Gold Coast Health has processes in place to manage such circumstances,” he said.

“Universal infection control procedures are in place and there is limited risk to patients and staff,” he said.

A Gold Coast University Hospital spokeswoman added: “Going by what the WHO (World Health Organisation) has been saying, we have recently done a review and we have an area with the hospital where the patient can be isolated.”

In the event of an outbreak in NSW, Professor Dominic Dwyer, Director and Clinical virologist at Pathology West told news.com.au that person would be treated in a specialist high-security infectious diseases treatment unit.

“The Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services (CIDMLS) of the Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR, Pathology West), at Westmead Hospital, is the only NSW laboratory equipped to undertake viral diagnostic testing for Ebola virus,” Prof. Dwyer said.

Taking precaution: Emergency crews surround as a Gold Coast man is transported to hospital. Pic: Glenn Hampson

“Westmead Hospital is the designated hospital for the treatment of Ebola virus and similar conditions in NSW. It has purpose-built isolation rooms for patients in order to control and contain the possible spread of the virus to other patients, healthcare staff and visitors. Staff who would be caring for these patients have been trained in the use of Personal Protective Equipment and relevant procedures.”

Professor Roy Hall from the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre said he was confident Australia’s health system could handle Ebola effectively.

“Ebola is not that transmissible,” he said.

“It’s not like influenza where it’s transmitted in the air. With good nursing practices a person who is infected or suspected to be infected could be treated with very little risk of passing on the disease.

Health workers at Georgetown University Medical Center are trained how to properly use protective gear to protect against the Ebola virus in the US. (AP Photo/Dan Lucey)

“As long as they’re identified and quarantined, the outbreak will be prevented. There wouldn’t be a problem with medical staff getting infected.”

The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest in history and the first in west Africa.

The current outbreak is affecting multiple countries and has sparked many travel warnings, but no cases have been recorded in Australia.

While there is no specific treatment, researchers in the United States are currently working on a vaccine for the highly contagious virus which is transmitted via bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, tears and saliva.