LAHORE: Chief minister’s adviser on health Khwaja Salman Rafiq has said the Punjab government will take all possible steps for checking spread of Ebola virus in the country and treatment of the affected persons, if any.

Presiding over a meeting held to review arrangements for checking Ebola virus and treatment of patients at the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) on Tuesday, he said the guidelines of WHO and medical experts would be fully implemented to avert the threat.

SIMS Associate Prof Dr Sobia Qazi told the meeting that Ebola was a fatal disease with 70 to 80pc recorded death rate. She said Ebola patients should be quarantined for at least 21 days and doctors, nurses and other staff providing treatment to them must wear a specific uniform to avoid the contagious ailment.

Prof Dr Javed Gardazi said the disease was prevalent in African countries and those traveling to the region were at maximum risk.

He said though at present the disease posed no potent threat to Pakistan’s population, screening of passengers arriving here from abroad should be declared mandatory at the airports.

Medical experts also discussed in detail the necessary arrangements regarding treatment of Ebola patients, if any.

Punjab Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervaiz said his department was taking steps in the light of WHO guidelines on eradication of Ebola virus and treatment.

He said the department would allocate an ambulance to be stationed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport to immediately shift such patients to the hospital, if need be.

He told that arrangements were also being made for preparing isolation wards for Ebola virus patients.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014