Risk here is low, officials say
In the wake of the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, travelers entering the Cayman Islands from West Africa will go through a screening process, Cayman health officials said Friday at a press conference.
“The Airport Authority is organizing a meeting of the representatives of the border control agencies, Tourism Department and Public Health to review and update the protocol for screening of travelers from West Africa,” said Minister of Health Osbourne Bodden.
Ebola is a rare but serious viral infection that affects humans and animals such as monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.
While the Ebola virus has spread across Guinea, northern Liberia and eastern Sierra Leone, health officials said the risk of the virus spreading to the Cayman Islands is low.
“Although the risk is low and the to and from travel to West Africa is minimal, it is agreed that the border control staff will liaise with the Public Health Department and the Emergency Department if they observe any passenger appearing ill, if there is travel history to the West African region within the past 21 days,” said Mr. Bodden.
If the ebola virus ever reaches the Cayman Islands, Mr. Bodden said the Cayman Islands Hospital would be “capable of handling any such cases and there will be assistance through PAHO/WHO [Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization] if need arises.”
Officials also discussed the outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus chikingunya.
“Currently the Caribbean is facing the chikungunya epidemic and we are having our share of it,” said Minister Bodden.
Since the debilitating virus was first reported in Cayman on June 25, blood tests have revealed that five people in the Cayman Islands have tested positive, including one case that was contracted locally.
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