Hampshire on stand by over Ebola threat

First there was SARS, and then came bird flu, followed a few years later by swine flu.

And yet, despite initial widespread panic, the situation was never as bad as feared as the impact was swiftly minimised through modern medicine.

Now the world is holding its breath over Ebola to see whether it will be the latest addition to this list.

There is no question of how serious this virus is though – with the death toll in West Africa already above 4,000, around half the total diagnosed.

The World Health Organ-isation (WHO) be-lieves the mortality rate could reach 70 per cent, which, if left unchecked, would dwarf the 20 per cent death rate of the last major pandemic – the post-First World War Spanish flu, thought to have killed 50million people worldwide.

Despite the vast majority of cases being limited to Africa, concerns are certainly starting to grow at home.

And with a very busy airport and docks that see thousands of people enter Southampton every day, just how much risk are we at here?

Not that much according to Public Health England (PHE), which expects the death rate to drop dramatically if the virus should arrive in the UK due to better control of infectious diseases.

That is a view shared by health bosses in Southampton who say they have been fully briefed by PHE on what guidelines to follow should Ebola reach the city.

Dr Graeme Jones, below, director of the infection prevention unit at University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, which runs the General, said: “We have strict procedures in place to manage patients with infectious conditions which include immediate isolation and prompt transfer to our infectious diseases unit if required.

“As the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa continues unabated, all hospitals across the UK have been working closely with PHE to ensure staff are fully prepared to manage any suspected or confirmed cases safely, quickly and effectively.

“Although confirmed cases have a very high mortality, which is why such a high level of precautions have been taken, the risk to relatives and staff caring for them is still very low.”

Mandy Rayani, chief nurse at Solent NHS Trust, which runs some GP practices and Bitterne Walk-In Centre in Southampton, added: “We have developed, in line with national guidelines, protocols for staff to follow locally. Each clinical area has the appropriate personal protective equipment should a person present with symptoms.”

Guidelines dictate any staff treating an Ebola case would have to wear double gloves, fluid-repellent disposable clothes, a plastic apron, eye protection, respirator and wash hands frequently.

And nurse Will Pooley, so far the only UK national to be infected with the virus while in Sierra Leone, made a full recovery after treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London last month.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at PHE, added: “It is important to remember that for Ebola to be transmitted from one person to another contact with blood or other body fluids are needed. As such, if England was to see a case of Ebola this will not result in an outbreak here.

“Our robust, well-developed and well-tested NHS systems for managing unusual infectious diseases are all active permanently, and always available and regularly tested and proven to be effective. The overall risk of Ebola to the UK remains low.”

Transport chiefs are closely monitoring the situation, particularly at the port.

A spokesman for Associated British Ports Southampton said Border Force agents were on standby to investigate any ships sailing from west Africa that were suspected of carrying infected passengers.

And Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said its member organisations, including P&O and Carnival who operate out of Southampton, had enhanced standard screenings of passengers when they board ships.

A spokesman said: “As they have done for many years, CLIA cruise line members conduct health screening prior to a passenger boarding a ship.

“While the risk of an Ebola incident on a cruise ship is low, and much lower than on land, these screenings have been enhanced to lower the risk even further.”

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is also monitoring ships arriving from countries affected by Ebola and determining if there are any risks.

PHE has ordered screening at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and St Pancras Railway Station, while Manchester and Birmingham airports will soon follow.

Meanwhile, as reported by the Daily Echo, Hampshire is becoming more and more involved in West Africa.

Nursling-based firm Primerdesign Ltd,  below, a spin-off company from the University of Southampton, has developed a screening kit that it believes could be used to contain the spread of Ebola.

The kit detects the DNA fingerprint of the Ebola virus, which means even tiny quantities of the disease can be detected in the early stages.

And Dr Jim O’Brien, director of the Wessex PHE centre in Fareham, is also in Africa helping to co-ordinate foreign efforts after local medical services were overwhelmed.

Meanwhile 91 medics have been dispatched from an Aldershot barracks to work in a field hospital in Sierra Leone.

And yesterday the Royal Navy ship RFA Argus, which has a fully-equipped, 100-bed hospital on board, set sail to join the humanitarian effort and is due to reach the area by the end of the month.