Ebola risk very low in Wellington

Outbreak unlikely but containment steps taken

The chances of Wellingtonians catching the Ebola virus are very remote, according to a hospital board specialist.

‘‘ You would win Lotto twice before you would catch Ebola,’’ Dr Michelle Balm said.

Balm is an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist at Wellington Hospital.

In spite of the low probability, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Hutt Valley District Health Board and Ministry of Health staff have worked together to be as prepared as possible for the contingency.

Regional Public Health is taking the lead in the initiative.

‘‘We’ve been thinking about this for quite some time since we saw that the outbreak wasn’t being contained,’’ Balm said.

Should a patient turn up in New Zealand they would be treated at one of three hospitals where expertise has been concentrated – Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.

Methods to handle the patient transfer, laboratory services, intensive care and support services were already in place at those centres.

‘‘It’s incredibly unlikely that we would ever need to enact this plan, but if we did we would want to be ready,’’ she said.

Thomas Duncan took the virus from Liberia to the United States and has died of the disease.

The likelihood of that happening in New Zealand is much lower because there are no direct flights from West Africa.

Epidemic management tech- niques are rehearsed from time to time by hospital staff, more frequently for an influenza outbreak, but this year staff have turned their attention to Ebola.

‘‘Generally Ebola is a little bit different.

‘‘It’s less easy to catch so the likelihood of it getting here is quite low,’’ she said.

Infections have happened only when there has been direct contact between people.

‘‘You need to be working with someone who is sick. That’s why it is so difficult to catch.’’

Very simple precautions can prevent its spread, such as wearing masks and gloves, and really careful handwashing.

‘‘ What we are seeing in the media is a little bit dramatic, but we do have to isolate people and limit its spread and protect staff,’’ she said.

‘‘We have quite a comprehensive plan that looks at not only whether a person has it, but how to manage them if they do.’’

That included managing people’s fears, she said.

Anyone who has been travelling through West Africa should identify themselves to the Ministry of Health before returning to New Zealand, she said.