The Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) is mobilizing teams of experts in outbreak alert and response to help member states in Latin America and the Caribbean ensure they are prepared for any potential introduction of Ebola virus disease (EVD).
According to a press release from PAHO, these teams will visit member countries over the next two months to assess their levels of preparedness to detect, treat and control the spread of any potential imported case of Ebola. They will work along with national health authorities to assess gaps and make recommendations for addressing them. Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO will provide follow-up technical cooperation based on individual countries’ needs.
In addition, PAHO/WHO experts and experts from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) will be deployed if an imported case of Ebola is identified in any PAHO/WHO member country, to assist national health authorities in implementing their EVD response plans, the release said.
There have been no cases in Latin America or the Caribbean to date. However, “the risk of an imported case in the region is real,”
