ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The Antigua and Barbuda Government has announced new measures aimed at enhancing public health safety amid concerns regarding the deadly outbreaks of hantavirus, ebola and malaria in several parts of the world.

The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Thursday said that following the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that ebola has now become a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), it assesses that the current risk to the Caribbean region is low.

“Despite the low risk, CARPHA is urging its member states to maintain a high state of readiness. Because the Caribbean is a major global travel hub, the primary way the virus could arrive is through an infected traveller,” said Dr Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s executive director.

“CARPHA provides a layered, yet proactive approach to early warning, supporting member states in the early detection, verification and response to emerging health threats,” she added.

“The declaration of a PHEIC underscores the need for heightened international and regional vigilance and coordination. CARPHA continues to monitor this outbreak closely through its global scanning early warning mechanisms.

“Additionally, CARPHA leverages its integrated suite of regional early warning and surveillance tools to support timely detection and situational awareness. These include event-based and indicator-based surveillance systems with early warning alerts, such as the Tourism and Health Information System (THiS), the Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS), national syndromic surveillance through the District Health Information System (DHIS) and the Talkwalker social listening platform.”

A statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting noted that Health, Wellness, the Environment and Public Service Affairs Minister, Michael Joseph, had advised that the ministry has been closely monitoring developments relating to several international health threats.

He said that the Ministry of Health has already commenced the process of upgrading the operations of the Port Health Unit to facilitate enhanced monitoring and surveillance protocols at the ports of entry.

Among the measures to be implemented are expanded health screening procedures, including temperature testing and enhanced traveller monitoring systems designed to identify potential public health risks before entry into Antigua and Barbuda.

“Cabinet was advised that incoming travellers will also be required to disclose details of their travel history over the previous 21 days. This measure will allow health authorities to determine whether individuals may have travelled through countries where any of the identified viruses are currently prevalent and to ensure that the appropriate health protocols and precautionary measures are implemented where necessary.”

The statement said that the ministry is undertaking preparatory work to ready the Infectious Disease Centre as a precautionary measure to ensure that the country remains adequately equipped to respond swiftly and effectively should the need arise.

Director General of Communications, Maurice Merchant, speaking to reporters, said the changes are expected to become visible from this weekend at air and seaports, adding that officials will be drawing from their experiences in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As you would have seen and heard in the news, this is of concern to all countries around the world,” Merchant said, noting that the World Health Organization has classified the ebola situation as a serious international concern.

Merchant said the Infectious Disease Centre remains in a state of readiness but requires some level of restoration after portions of the building were being utilised for storage.

“It would need specialised treatment to ready it, cleaning, etcetera. There was some storage that was being done there, so storage of medical equipment and medical supplies, they will be removed and (the facility) ready to carry out the functions that it was intended for.”

The enhanced monitoring also coincides with the planned launch of the twice-monthly commercial service to Antigua and Barbuda by the Nigerian-based airline Air Peace, scheduled to begin on Monday.

But Merchant told reporters that while the service had been scheduled months in advance, the evolving health situation in parts of Africa reinforced the need for increased vigilance at the ports of entry.