Queensland Health has activated the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre amid the heightened national response to the threat from the Ebola virus.
The move came as chief medical officers from around the country met to discuss Australia’s preparedness to deal with any Ebola case.
Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said a communicable disease incident management team of around 18 health experts and support officers had also been established.
“It’s about formalising the work that was already underway with regard to our level of preparedness and response capabilities to a case of Ebola virus disease (EVD),” Dr Young said.
The management team, led by communicable diseases specialist Dr Sonya Bennett, included a medical epidemiologist and a virologist.
“The team’s composition will change as the focus of the group changes or, of course, in the event of another suspected or confirmed case of EVD,” Dr Young said.
She said the team would develop specific policies for healthcare workers managing an Ebola case, both in West Africa and in Australia, as well as guidelines for health workers and more detailed public information.
“The focus is to ensure Queensland’s guidelines for managing Ebola, which are based on national and international recommendations, are clear and comprehensive and that all support services are in place,” Dr Young said.
“This also includes supporting the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Mater Children’s Hospital to be fully prepared to manage a case, including exercising the plans, as they are the designated treatment facilities for a patient with Ebola virus disease.
“It also includes equipping our aero-medical retrieval services with the capacity to transport patients to Brisbane if required, which is why we have purchased three ISO-POD units, which are expected to arrive next week.”
An ISO-POD is an individual isolation system used to transport patients with a variety of infectious diseases.
Management team will boost health worker awareness
Dr Young said an effort will also be made to educate health workers about Ebola.
“We also want to make sure all health staff in Queensland know and have access to the recommended guidelines and that they feel confident and equipped to help a patient suspected of having EVD,” Dr Young said.
She also urged all Queenslanders intending to travel to West Africa to call 13 432 584 to register their details.
“Our ability to monitor potential risks relies heavily on being aware of who is travelling to affected regions and being able to make prompt contact with them when they return,” she said.
Dr Young said Queensland would continue to collaborate with and seek advice from national bodies such as the Communicable Disease Network of Australia and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
The national bodies were assessing global recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.