Amidst reports of the coronavirus affecting countries in the region, the Health Ministry assures public that the country is prepared in case there is an outbreak. The Ministry revealed the national contingency plan which covers screening, prevention, isolation and clinical management of the virus in case of an outbreak during a press conference today.
The old Mother and Child Healthcare infrastructure at the National Referral Hospital has been identified as the isolation centre in case there is an outbreak. Similarly, isolation rooms have also been identified in hospitals in districts where there are points of entry into the country.
“There is a road which separates the Mother and Child Healthcare building from the main hospital. So if there is an outbreak we will quarantine the whole building. The health team will take over the patient from the day of diagnosis. There will be no sick attendant. We can accommodate around 20 beds in the building and will also set up ICU in the building itself if needed. There will also be designated health team at the building so that will completely isolate it from the main hospital infrastructure,” said Dechen Wangmo, the Health Minister.
“Hospital team for an emergency have been formed, the emergency team has also been formed at the Ministry to advise health workers. Isolation rooms have been identified at the hospitals in case there is an outbreak. At the referral hospital, rooms have been identified for special isolation. The infection control system has been stepped up, awareness and advocacy are being stepped up. Personal protective equipment and equipment required for handling the outbreak are ready and we are procuring additional and will be getting within a few days,” added Rixin Jamtsho, the Chief Programme Officer at the Health Ministry.
In preparation against the outbreak of the virus, health officials together with immigration and police in the border gates have started screening people at the entry point beginning today. The officials are using infrared forehead thermometer.
The Ministry is urging people to do self-reporting in case they are returning from a country that have confirmed the outbreak of the virus.
“People are to declare their travel history when they come back and get medical check up. During the Ebola outbreak in the past, a Bhutanese who had been to the Ebola affected region in Africa entered the country via Bagdora and Phuentshogling. If such is the case there is a very high risk for an outbreak,” said Dr Ugen Dophu, the Secretary at the Health Ministry.
“Phuentshogling is ground crossing. As of now we have started screening people with respiratory illnesses. There are some challenges there because it is along the border and is not a similar situation like the Paro International Airport where things are more systematic. It is a bit challenging for the Ministry to screen all people. We talked with the immigration and trying to get hold of even those going for a pilgrim to Nepal,” added Kinley Dorji, the Chief for Emergency and Medical Service Division at the Health Ministry.
Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong, the destinations where Bhutan’s airlines operate, are among the affected countries in the region. Foreign media reported that there are two more suspected cases of an outbreak of coronavirus in Nepal after the country confirmed the first case last Friday.
The novela coronavirus which first originated in Chinese city Wuhan is reported to have claimed 106 lives in the city with the number of infections reaching more than 4500 in China. The city is currently locked down to contain the virus.
As per reports, the virus seems to have lower fatality rate at 3 per cent compared to 9.6 per cent for the severe acute respiratory syndrome. The Health Secretary assures that if reported in time, health officials can carry out signs and symptom management of the virus to treat the infected. So far no cure has been found for the viral infection.
Phub Gyem
