The National Laboratory of Timor-Leste is not yet fit to screen for the Ebola virus because the virus spreads too quickly and due to lack of essential laboratory equipment for analysis of the virus.
The Chief of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health Doctor Merita Monteiro said even though cases of Ebola have not been registered in Timor-Leste that it is good to be prepared.
“We are just praying that it does not reach us in Timor but if it does one day we need to quarantine the patient and treat the symptoms and send a sample of the blood overseas for analysis,” said Doctor Monteiro in Dili.
She said the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization have already contacted an Indian Laboratory that will be able to analyse suspected cases.
She added her ministry has conducted Ebola training for health professionals including establishing guidelines for treatment if a case is identified.
“This virus is very dangerous. There isn’t any medicine to treat Ebola infection and it spreads much quicker than other infections.”
The ministry of health set up a dedicated isolation area for Ebola infected patients at the National Hospital.
The Ebola virus is spread through direct contact between people through open wounds, sneezing, sweat, and saliva, through sexual intercourse and through infected needles. It can also be contracted through clothes and other fabrics such as bed linen.
WHO representative Doctor Jorge Mario Luna said the national laboratory at the Dili Hospital will not be able to analyse for the virus because it is very dangerous and it required a specialised laboratory. He added many other nations are not able to analyse for the virus in a suspected sample.
“This virus cannot be analysed in a basic laboratory as it is very dangerous. If we suspect a case in Timor-Leste we will have to send it for analysis in a regional laboratory in India,” said Doctor Luna.
