WITH a fatality rate of around 70pc, according to WHO, the Ebola outbreak raging mainly in parts of West Africa has, with good reason, triggered much anxiety across the world.

The disease has ravaged the society and health infrastructure of the hardest-hit countries which include Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

In Pakistan, after an initially lackadaisical response to the threat of the virus entering the country, the health authorities appear to have woken up to the risk and scrambled to put preventive measures in place. Isolation wards have been set up in at least seven tertiary care hospitals all over the country.

Round-the-clock health staff has been appointed at all international airports to screen passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries, document their history and if necessary, coordinate with relevant personnel in the provincial health departments to keep such passengers under observation/quarantine at one of the isolation wards.

Training in detecting and handling cases is being conducted for the health staff deputed at points of entry. WHO has provided 15 sets of protective gear to the Sindh government in case doctors and paramedics in the province have to handle an infected person.

This is all very well, and WHO has also declared itself satisfied with the measures Pakistan is taking to contend with this health emergency.

However, key to success here is consistency and rigorous application of the protocols that are being put in place. Such discipline does not come naturally to us, but harness it we must. Adherence to preventive measures is essential right down to the micro level in the health chain where laxity is most likely. For this, training of everyone concerned must be mandatory.

The response should continue to be coordinated by a central authority, and assessments on a weekly basis sought from provincial health authorities so that a constant vigil can be maintained. Even one case slipping through can have consequences too horrific to contemplate in a population already reeling under the weight of several health crises.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014