SIBU: Timber companies in the state having activities in Africa have been advised to beef up preventive measures following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in western Africa.
The measures are necessary to prevent workers contracting the dreaded disease and later, spreading them to Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Foreign Ministry had been asked to issue an advisory for Malaysians in the EVD-infected African countries and those who would be travelling there.
When contacted, state Health Dept director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan said the department was advising those companies to take precautions but did not issue any general advice to the public.
Asked if the state had facility to detect the Ebola virus, he said the test could only be carried out at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur.”
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam had reportedly said the risk of Ebola spreading in Malaysia was still low.
He was further quoted to have said so far, the spread of EVD only occurred in west Africa and cited a World Health Organisation (WHO) report which said 1,603 cases, including 887 fatalities, were reported in west Africa as of Aug 4.
According to Bernama, the cases were reported in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Dr Subramaniam said there was no direct flight from these countries to Malaysia even though they might want to come here.
He was further reported to have said that in Malaysia, EVD was a disease that required notification under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988.
Infectious disease consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Timothy William reportedly said Ebola was a very infectious virus, even in small amounts.
He further advised the public to limit their travel to west African countries, saying Ebola virus was moderately contagious and could be spread from an infected human to another through body fluids such as blood, mucus, saliva and urine, or objects contaminated by the infected person.
Bernama further mentioned that Ebola was a haemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent.
Symptoms began with a fever and throat and muscle pains and then developed into nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which is accompanied by the decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys, with bleeding.