Preparedness Measures for

Ebola Virus Disease

Workshop on Strengthening Ebola Preparedness and Joint Response among ASEAN+3 FETN member countries1-3 Dec 2014, Bangkok

Our Approach to Combating EVD

I. Minimise the risk of infection

II. Early detection of suspect cases in Singapore

III. Prevent/minimise local spread in the event of an imported case

1. Suspect Case– A person with a fever (>38⁰C) or current history of

fever AND has been in countries with reported EVD activity (currently Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali) within the past 21 days, OR

– A person with fever (>38⁰C) or current history of fever AND has had exposure to a confirmed or suspect case of EVD within the past 21 days.

2. Confirmed Case– A case with laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus

infection.

Case definition

I. Minimising Risk

• General advisory to the public and companies on the postponement of non-essential travel, and specific advisory on precautionary actions to be taken to minimise risk of infection

• Health Advisory Posters (HAPs) at airport for outbound travellers

• Temporary visa requirements for nationals from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone for entry into Singapore

II. Early Detection of Cases

• Health Advisory Posters (HAPs) and individual Health Advisory Notices (HANs) for inbound travellers at all checkpoints

• Temperature screening upon arrival covers travellers from West Africa, of whom 80% transit in the Middle East

• Nationals and self-declared travellers from Ebola-affected African countries will be directed to a screening station− Screened for fever;− Requested to complete a Health Declaration Card (with contact

information); and− Administered a questionnaire to assess for the risk of exposure to Ebola

• Those with fever will be sent to dedicated hospital for further assessment and testing

• Those who are well but assessed to have a risk of exposure to Ebola will be kept under phone surveillance or quarantine for up to 21 days

II. Early Detection of Cases

• Inclusion of Ebola as notifiable diseases under the Infectious Diseases Act

• Circulars to doctors and hospitals to raise awareness, provide guidelines and protocols on infection control and management of suspect and confirmed cases of Ebola

• Visits to hospitals and preparedness exercises are being conducted to ensure that they are well-prepared and adequately resourced for case management

III. Preventing/Minimising Local Spread in Event of Imported Case

• Centralised management of cases (designated

wards)

• Ebola virus testing by laboratory

• Close monitoring of every suspect cases

• Contact tracing and quarantine operations are

in place

Harmonization of PPE

• Guidance on PPE for healthcare workers and staff

in acute hospitals and primary care settings

• PPE guidance has also been adapted to non-

healthcare settings

• Work with relevant agencies (whole of government

approach) to promulgate the PPE

recommendations to relevant staff.

Public Communications

• Dedicated webpage for EVD on the MOH

website

• Press releases on measures implemented to

safeguard against outbreaks− Raising the awareness and knowledge of

travellers about the potential risk of diseases;

− Increasing public confidence.

• Interviews by subject experts with the media

Risk Assessment• Widespread and intense transmission continues in Guinea,

Liberia and Sierra Leone.

• There is low travel connectivity between Singapore and West Africa, where widespread and intense transmission remains limited to.

• As such, the risk of the spread of the disease to Singapore is currently assessed to be low.

• Local transmission from an imported case can be prevented with early identification and isolation of a patient, quarantine of close contacts and strict infection control measures.

Thank you