On Friday August 1, 2014, at Room 202, Chamchuri 4 Building, Chulalongkorn University held a press conference to provide the general public with sufficient information about the deadly Ebola virus and how to prepare for in case the Ebola outbreak spreads to Thailand. At the press conference, Chulalongkorn University President Prof. Pirom Kamolratanakul, M.D., presided over the opening ceremony and gave an opening speech. Along with the CU President were key speakers, namely, Prof. Yong Poovorawan,MD., from the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology,Departmentof Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Prof. Narin Hiransuthikul, M.D., from the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; and Prof. Dr. Roongroj Thanawongnuwech, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University.
The Ebola outbreak in Africa between March and July 2014 is the ever largest outbreak to date. There were more than 1,200 patients and the mortality rate reached 60 percent in three countries which are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and one dead found in Nigeria. The severity of the outbreak rate for the Ebola virus in the three countries has doubled up due to these contributing factors which are inadequate surveillance, inefficient quarantine of infected patients and under-standard prevention measures.
The Ebola virus is in the Filovirus family. It was first discovered in 1929 at Democratic Republic of Congo’s the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. More than 20 outbreaks of the Ebola virus have been recoded. Infected animals such as bats and monkeys are believed to carry and spread the virus to humans but it is not yet confirmed how it transmits. For human-to-human transmission, it is via direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or by contact with the virus during performing local traditions of disposing the dead body. Preliminary symptoms of Ebola are similar to those of dengue and after the 2 – 21 days of incubation period, patients will abruptly have a high fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, deteriorating functioning of kidneys and livers, and death. Until now, vaccines and medications to treat Ebola are not available. Hygiene is, so far, the most efficient preventive measure.
Despite the vast number of the dead cases in Africa in March 2014, there is a little chance that the Ebola virus would spread to Thailand. Considering that the signs and symptoms of those infected with the Ebola virus are severe, infected people cannot travel abroad to other countries in their weak condition; as seen that the outbreak occurred in countries in vicinity rather than across the region. For preventive and control measures against the Ebola outbreak, strict measures are needed to implement in order to screen and monitor travellers especially those traveling from countries that are experiencing the Ebola outbreak while suspected Ebola patients are highly recommended to see a doctor instantly.
