ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Oct. 11, 2014, CNS – Minister of Health, Molwyn Joseph, said is it not a matter of if, but when the Ebola virus will arrive in the Caribbean.
“We believe that Ebola, like many viruses in the past, will eventually come to the Caribbean. We do not wish it but it’s something that we have absolutely no control over,” Joseph said on local radio.
“We believe also that as a responsible government we must prepare Antigua and Barbuda to reduce the risk as well as to prepare the people of Antigua and Barbuda, the entire nation in understanding their role in the area of surveillance as well as management.”
Earlier Joseph announced that the government will acquire a laser thermometer to screen the temperature of passengers arriving in the country.
“We will be purchasing the equipment. We have made the decision that it will be done. The fact of the matter is this is an evolving development. I think three weeks ago, you would not find in the United States anybody would be thinking of screening because it was not yet in the US. Since then the security measures have evolved,” Joseph said.
He said Prime Minister Gaston Browne has advised him that the need for the technology should be made a priority and efforts are now being made to secure the machine.
“It is an equipment that is not invasive but it could detect the temperature of an individual; you walk by and it is like a laser light that will go on the individual … the person will not even know. They may take a glance and see the equipment but they might not necessarily know their temperature is being taken,” Joseph said.
In Trinidad and Tobago the National Carnival Commission (NCC) is contemplating postponing Carnival celebrations in 2015 due to fears associated with the Ebola virus.
NCC chairman Alison Demas said the threat of an Ebola outbreak is becoming more real, daily, and that it may be that the Carnival, scheduled for February 16-17, and which attracts thousands of foreigners, would have to be postponed.
“We are reminded of what happened years ago with the polio epidemic when Carnival had to be postponed. It is a bit premature to say but clearly this is something that maybe necessary because of course we would not want Carnival to be an avenue for our population and our visitors being affected by the deadly Ebola epidemic.”
Demas said the NCC was now undertaking research to determine how best to respond to the virus following deaths in the United States.
CNS/db/2014
