- Title: SAUDI ARABIA-EBOLA/HAJ Saudi Arabia introduces Ebola screening ahead of Haj
- Date: 20th September 2014
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2014) (REUTERS) AIR PLANE TAXING ON AIRPORT TARMAC SAUDI FLAG ON TOWER MEMBER OF MEDICAL TEAM CALLING PREVENTIVE TEAM AT AIRPORT DURING DRILL MEMBER OF PREVENTIVE TEAM RECEIVING ALERT OF SUSPECTED CASE MEMBER OF PREVENTATIVE TEAM INFORMING THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL TEAM ABOUT SUSPECTED CASE VARIOUS DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL TEAM RINGING ALARM VARIOUS OF SAUDI MEDIC PUTTING ON PROTECTIVE CLOTHING VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF CENTERS OF HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AT KING ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DIRECTING MEDICAL TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDULGHANI AL-MALKI, DIRECTOR OF CENTERS OF HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AT KING ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SAYING: "This is a rehearsal to clarify how to deal with suspected cases of Ebola disease, so as to know the readiness of health teams." VARIOUS OF MEDICAL TEAM WALKING THROUGH AIRPORT MEMBER OF MEDICAL TEAM CHECKING PILOT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE IN COCKPIT OF PLANE AIRCRAFT GAUGES VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF MEDICAL TEAM CHECKING VACCINE CERTIFICATES OF PASSENGERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FAHAD GHAZOLI ,PREVENTIVE SUPERVISOR AT KING ABDULAZIZ AIRPORT, SAYING: "The responsibility of the preventive team is to access the plane and check the pilgrims coming from all over the world, especially the countries of West Africa" VARIOUS OF MEDICAL TEAM TAKING SUSPECTED CASE TO TRANSFER TO HOSPITAL DURING DRILL VARIOUS OF DOCTOR CHECKING THE SUSPECTED CASE DOCTOR CALLING AMBULANCE VARIOUS OF AMBULANCE TRANSFERRING SUSPECTED CASE TO HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF MEDICAL TEAM GIVING VACCINE TO PILGRIMS MEDICAL TEAMS CHECKING PASSENGER DOCUMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DR.FOUAD SENDI, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF CENTERS OF HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AT KING ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SAYING: "If we are taking about corona (MERS) we have a lot of measurements can easily expose the passengers or the haj who is leaving Saudi Arabia. We are using thermal cameras, and we are using visual observation which can easily expose any haj who have or develop any respiratory - severe respiratory distress signals." VARIOUS OF MEDICAL TEAM TREATING MAN VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PUTTING BAGS ON X RAY MACHINE
- Embargoed: 5th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACNWHNC8TSGCX3JVWQDP1RGZX2
- Story Text: Saudi authorities have introduced an Ebola screening programme as the country prepares to receive up to three million pilgrims taking part in the Haj, some of whom will be travelling from Africa.
Medical staff wearing protective clothing check all passengers on arrival at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport where passengers fill in a medical questionnaire and are given medicine as they disembark the aircraft.
Abdulghani al-Malki, Director of King Abdulaziz International airport's Health Surveillance Centre explained the need to screen all passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia.
"This is a rehearsal to clarify how to deal with suspected cases of Ebola disease, so as to know the readiness of health teams," al-Malki said in an interview with Reuters Television.
"The responsibility of the preventive team is to access the plane and check the pilgrims coming from all over the world, especially the countries of West Africa", said Fahad Ghazoli, Preventative Supervisor at King Abdulaziz Airport.
According to Dr. Fouad Sendi, Medical Director of Centres of Health Surveillance at the airport, the medical teams are using thermal cameras and visual observation to spot signs of ebola.
In the case of a patient being diagnosed with Ebola, al Malki said that a rapid reaction team was standing by to take them straight to hospital.
One person suspected of having the virus was taken away by ambulance. He was later given the all clear.
Saudi Arabia, has barred pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea from this years Haj due to Ebola concerns, but will allow Nigerians to attend, an official was reported as saying, suggesting the smaller outbreak there was less worrying.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the worst since the disease was identified in 1976.
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