The Ministry of Health has to date successfully quarantined eight travelers who visited Jamaica from countries with Ebola outbreaks, in keeping with the Ministry’s protocols and the travel restrictions implemented by the Government of Jamaica.
According to Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson these travelers were quarantined in order to safeguard the population and to minimize any possible risk of introduction of the Ebola virus into Jamaica. Seven persons were successfully monitored by senior Public Health Officers and have since been released from quarantine or have left the island prior to the end of the quarantine period. The eighth individual will remain in quarantine until Saturday, 17 January 2015, with on-going twice daily monitoring by the Public Health team for signs and symptoms of Ebola.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse explained that, “These travelers arrived in Jamaica within 21 days of leaving the countries where the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease is taking place. This is the incubation period or the time from the last possible exposure until signs and symptoms occur. All of the travelers remained well during the period of quarantine and monitoring and showed no signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease. The Ebola virus is only spread when signs and symptoms appear”.
While there is a travel restriction for visitors entering the country, Jamaican citizens have a right to return home, and as such, the travel restrictions do not apply.
Dr. Ferguson is urging all Jamaicans to continue to cooperate with the health team as the Ministry remains vigilant and systems are strengthened to prevent and control any possible introduction of the Ebola virus into the island.
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are countries in West Africa that continue to implement measures to curtail the current outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease. The World Health Organization advised on 14 January 2015 that a total of 21, 296 cases of Ebola Virus Disease and 8,429 deaths have been reported.