Guyana has a mass preparedness campaign on stream for the Ebola virus and over 1600 medical personnel are to be trained on dealing with the disease.
This is according to Dr. Johanna Cole, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, Consultant.
The Government Information Agency said that she was speaking at a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session this morning at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street.
She said that 1, 600 medical professionals are to soon start training on dealing with the virus, and administering care to persons who have contracted the virus as opposed to those who are suspected to have it.
In addition, she said that emphasis will be placed on safety and precautionary measures for health care providers, who may come in contact with an infected person or environment, as the Ebola virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids.
Over 4,000 persons have now died from the haemorrhagic disease in several West African countries and its virulence and the absence of a vaccine has stirred worldwide anxiety. The US and Spain have now reported one case each of health workers infected by patients from West Africa who were being treated at health facilities.
The Ministry of Health here has said that there is stepped up surveillance at ports of entry particularly of persons who have travelled from West Africa.
