What Ebola alert?

SEPANG: While Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam says that the country is on high Ebola virus alert, the scene on the ground suggests otherwise with health officers at only international entry points on the lookout for asymptomatic patients.
A health officer had only this to say: "The Ebola virus alert at entry points is not similar to the H1N1 alert where health screenings at all entry points are conducted on passengers with symptoms."
"At the moment we are on the lookout for only asymptomatic passengers and are checking on those travelling to countries with the outbreak. All measures taken are according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s procedures. We cannot do screening on all or random passengers at entry point since the incubation period for the virus are within two to 21 days. It would be difficult to ascertain if anyone is infected as those infected may not show the symptoms immediately upon arriving at entry points," he said.
It was reported that doctors who come across Ebola cases or its symptoms – vomiting, diarrhoea, high fever, liver and kidney failure – must notify the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
Unable to provide further information, the officer however explained that the Ebola virus is a notifiable disease under the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and the health care officers are "on the know" of the measures.
"At the moment the ministry is working with other ministries and agencies like the Immigration Department, Education Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry to prevent the disease from spreading here," the officer said.
However, it is still unclear as to how the ministry will screen potentially infected passengers at entry points and the measures taken to prevent the outbreak in the country.
Yesterday, Subramaniam said that all major entry points in Malaysia, including the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), are under an Ebola virus alert while WHO tries to contain the outbreak in West Africa.
He had reportedly said that the ministry is stepping up preparations to prevent the highly contagious disease from reaching Malaysia and clear instructions have been given to officers at the entry points on what to do to prevent transmissions from travellers.
"Preventive measures include identifying and handling passengers with symptoms and alerting the ministry."
The CPRC must also be notified," he had said.