Barbados Health Ministry Addresses Ebola Concerns

Dr George outlined the quarantine protocols and border surveillance measures now in place.

“The quarantine period is 21 days. Quarantine should only be used for persons who have traversed the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.”

He added that strengthened border systems are already operational.

“We have instituted many measures at the airport so that all airport staff have been briefed. The public health nurses take information on any suspected patient with respect to where they traverse.”

Minister Cummins also urged the public to avoid stigma and discrimination, stressing that only a small number of countries are currently affected.

“Africa is a huge place and I don’t want us to be stereotypical of the entire continent. There are three countries as it stands now, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan that are being watched in particular. They are in East Africa, hundreds of thousands of miles away from West Africa, South Africa, and even the Central African countries.”

She stressed the importance of perspective when considering scale and geography.

“It is important for us to bear in mind that we’re not talking about 166 square miles like in Barbados and that Africa is not a single place and so it’s important that we’re not necessarily assume that everyone that comes out of Africa is coming from one of the three countries of 52 that is having the outbreak of Ebola and I think that’s important for us to bear in mind.”

“We’re in a scenario where we don’t want people to become anxious about anyone they hear or see with an accent that they think could be coming from a jurisdiction, because that’s also not who we are.”

Dr George noted that Barbados is supported by continuous regional travel intelligence systems “which gives us the ability to understand how passengers move in the region”.

Senator Cummins said these systems operate within established international health frameworks that guide passenger screening and risk assessment.

“That information now comes into each country. For the purpose of screening passengers before they arrive.”

“So when Dr George tells you, if your passenger has traveled to specific countries that we consider under the International Health Regulations, tier 4 countries, which are high-risk countries, Dr George will know and Dr George will treat to it with the requirements of the protocols for the International Health Regulations.”

Dr George confirmed that a public hotline will be activated to support public enquiries.

“We are going to brief the hotline because we know that Barbadians may have questions, and the hotline will be enabled to make and give some guidance from [Friday].”

(LG)