Antigua and Barbuda to Tighten Port Health Checks Over Ebola Risk

Antigua and Barbuda will introduce tougher border health checks for arriving passengers as global concern rises over Ebola cases in sections of Central Africa.

The new approach was discussed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, where Maurice Merchant said Health Minister Michael Joseph had informed Cabinet about work under way to improve national readiness for Ebola, hantavirus and malaria.

The decision comes after the World Health Organization declared that the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations.

Figures from the WHO, shared at the briefing, showed that Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed Ebola infections, 246 suspected infections and 80 suspected deaths up to May 16. Uganda had also verified two Ebola infections, one of them fatal, involving people who had travelled from the Congo.

Merchant said the Ministry of Health in Antigua and Barbuda has started improving systems at the Port Health Unit so officials can better track health risks at entry points. The wider screening regime is expected to begin this weekend.

Under the updated procedures, people entering the country will have to disclose where they travelled during the previous 21 days. Health teams will review those details to see whether passengers had recently been in, or passed through, countries with active Ebola transmission or other diseases being monitored.

The border push is being brought forward shortly before Air Peace begins new flights linking Antigua with Lagos, Nigeria. Merchant said that planned route was one reason the administration chose to move quickly on tighter surveillance.

“The flight from Nigeria was scheduled months ago, and hence, with what is taking place in parts of Africa, the government thinks that it is necessary to step up its surveillance efforts to protect Antigua and Barbuda from any possible exposure to any of these illnesses,” Merchant said.

He said officials will also pay attention to travellers who did not start their journey in affected countries but may have connected through them before reaching Antigua and Barbuda.

Merchant further disclosed that Antigua had recently found two malaria cases that were imported. He said the Ministry of Health should give more information at a media briefing either before the end of this week or early next week.

Cabinet was also told that the Infectious Disease Centre is being readied in case anyone suspected of exposure has to be separated from others or kept under observation. Merchant said the centre has not been heavily used in recent years and will need cleaning and reorganisation before it can be activated if required.

“They can be housed there,” Merchant said, referring to people whose arrival may raise concerns for health authorities.

He added that the government intends to draw on the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, with trained workers expected to be placed at ports of entry from this weekend.