In line with the directives of the Cabinet, the Health Minister Sadiq bin Abdul Karim Al Shehabi, affirmed the importance of subjecting the medical and technical staff to an intensive training and practical exercises as well as making use of international expertise to fight the "Ebola" disease, and the adoption of effective measures to prevent the arrival of the disease to the Kingdom of Bahrain through tightening control over ports and screening of suspected cases infected with the disease, especially the cases coming from affected countries.
The Health Minister has informed the Cabinet on Ebola's updates, affirming that there are no Ebola cases in Bahrain, as there is a constant communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) to get updated on any new recommendation in this regard.
Al Shehabi said that Ministry of Health issued a guideline that has been circulated to all workers in the health facilities on how to diagnose and deal with cases that are suspected of being infected or have had a history of traveling to affected areas, pointing out that there is no cure or vaccine for this particular type of virus.
With regard to prevention methods for those working in the field of health care, Al Shehabi stressed the need to apply the precautions to combat virus infections, especially essential hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, pointing out that the Ministry of Health has provided an explanation about the standard precautions that must be undertaken by patients and visitors at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, regardless of the quality of infectious disease, as these measures applicable to all infectious diseases.
The Minister outlined the most important preventive tips to avoid Ebola, which can be offered to the general public, like washing hands constantly with soap and water or disinfectant, avoid contact with people who are infected or suspected to be infected with the disease, avoid contact with certain types of animals in the affected areas, wear masks and gloves continuously in the affected areas and avoid intimate physical contact with patients infected with Ebola fever.
Ebola is a disease of humans and other mammals caused by an Ebola virus. Symptoms start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches. Typically, vomiting, diarrhea and rash follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. Around this time, affected people may begin to bleed both within the body and externally.The virus may be acquired upon contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected human or other animal Spreading through the air has not been documented in the natural environment. Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier in nature, able to spread the virus without being affected. Humans become infected by contact with the bats or living or dead animals that have been infected by bats. Once human infection occurs, the disease may spread between people as well.
The Minister praised the leadership's directives, which urge the Ministry of health on caring for the Bahraini citizens' health, putting a national plan aligned with WHO's recommendations, pointing out that the government is keen on upgrading the health condition in Bahrain.