Ebola: What is the risk of it coming to France?

What are the chances of the Ebola virus coming to France? And if it did make it to these shores how bad would it be? The Local takes a closer look at the possibility and also how the French government plans to deal with an outbreak.

On two occasions last week it appeared the deadly Ebola virus had come to France, however both incidents proved to be false alerts. After the two scares The Local takes a closer look at how real the risks are of a French outbreak.

How worried should we be about an Ebola outbreak in France?

Thankfully, at the moment anyway, we needn’t be too concerned. The main reason for this is the sheer distance separating France and the Ebola-hit regions in West Africa, which currently are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Since the disease evolves relatively quickly, most people carrying the virus would be detected before they are even allowed on a plane. If a person flies from a high-risk zone, they are asked to keep a close eye on their condition when they arrive in France and to report any symptoms to authorities. The risk of transmission during the incubation period is considered to be low.

But does this mean Ebola is only a plane-ride away?

Yes and no. Although a case of Ebola could travel undetected on a flight, the main international airlines have already prepared for such a scenario. Not to mention France’s flagship-carrier Air France which screens passengers for the virus before they board a flight leaving from high-risk Ebola areas, like Conakry and Freetown in Sierra Leone. The screening includes taking passengers’ temperature and getting them to fill out questionnaires. “They are only given their boarding card if no medical symptoms are present,” the airline has said in a statement.

Should someone carrying the Ebola virus still get on board, there are precautions for that too. Air France crew have received instructions on how to isolate a person who is suspected of being infected, for example reserving a toilet for that person, among other measures. The airline has also ensured its flights are equipped with face masks, rubber gloves and alcohol-gel. Air France also keeps a record of anyone on the flight who might have been in contact with an infected person.

Since Ebola is not an airborne virus, but requires the direct contact of body fluids, such as sweat, blood, saliva and vomit, the chances of a transmission of Ebola between passengers are low.

If it does hit, is France prepared?                 

Yes, or at least according to Health Minister Marisol Touraine. She says France has both the equipment and staff to be able to adequately prevent the virus from spreading. Specific hospitals in every region have been designated to deal with cases of Ebola and in each of those, isolation wards will be set up to keep victims of the virus separate away from other patients. A laboratory is also on stand-by to carry out tests as soon as a suspected case is detected.

What other precautions has France taken?

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an advisory warning against any unnecessary travel to the countries currently hit by the outbreak. Or, if a French citizen still needs to go there, then they are recommended to stay away from the Ebola epicentres.

For those who can’t stay away from the Ebola-hit regions, the ministry has issued a list of guidelines when it comes to food and hygiene, advising anyone from eating or handling any meat from wild animals (bushmeat) and to always wash their hands. It also says to avoid all contact with people displaying a high fever, who are bleeding, or have an upset stomach.

Following a visit to a high-risk area, anyone returning to France is asked to take their temperature on a daily basis for a period of at least three weeks. Should a person display a fever of 38.5°C or over, it is treated as a suspected case of Ebola and the person must immediately report to the authorities.

And how deadly is Ebola?

Very. Since February it has killed nearly 900 people in West Africa. According to the World Health Organization, an outrbreak of the virus has a fatality rate of up to 90 percent. Since the virus was discovered almost 40 years ago, most Ebola outbreaks have been reported in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near rainforests.

The virus is transmitted by wild animals, such as fruit bats, and in between humans through body fluids.

An Ebola-infected patient will require excellent intensive care in order to survive since the virus attacks multiple organ systems at the same time.Today, there is no licensed cure or vaccine available against Ebola, but two American aid workers infected by the virus while in West Africa are reportedly recovering after receiving an experimental serum.

find the article and more useful links : http://www.thelocal.fr/20140806/ebola-whatare-the-chances-of-it-coming-to-france

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