No cases of Ebola virus reported in Qatar

The Public Health Department at the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) said yesterday that no cases of Ebola virus have been reported in Qatar.

In line with the International Health Regulations IHR 2005, SCH is monitoring the global situation and the latest WHO recommendations in this regard since the first case which was reported in last March in Guinea through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN).

Infection occurs from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, or other bodily fluids or secretions (stool, urine, saliva, semen) of infected people.

Infection can also occur if broken skin or mucous membranes of a healthy person come into contact with environments that have become contaminated with an Ebola patient’s infectious fluids such as soiled clothing, bed linen, or used needles.

The WHO guidelines for travellers and the health care workers are immediately shared with the concerned authorities. The risk of a tourist becoming infected with Ebola virus disease during a visit to the affected areas is very low as transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals.

Sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat are typical signs and symptoms. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

The incubation period, or the time interval from infection to onset of symptoms, is from two to 21 days. The patients become contagious once they begin to show symptoms.

They are not contagious during the incubation period. Ebola virus disease infections can only be confirmed through laboratory testing.

Based on WHO recommendations and the available information, no restrictions to travel and trade are to be advised. However, in case of necessary travel to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia persons should seriously take some preventive measures.

Travellers should understand the nature of the disease, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent it from spreading further. 

If there was a suspect case close to you or in your community of having Ebola virus disease, encourage and support them in seeking appropriate medical treatment in a care facility.

If you choose to care for an ill person in your home, notify public health officials of your intentions so they can train you and provide appropriate gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as instructions as a reminder on how to properly care for the patient, protect yourself and your family, and properly dispose of the PPE after use.

When visiting patients in the hospital or caring for someone at home, hand washing with soap and water is recommended after touching a patient, being in contact with their bodily fluids, or touching his/her surroundings.

The Peninsula