TWO children are being tested for Ebola as a precaution after being taken directly from Melbourne Airport to the Royal Children’s Hospital in an ambulance this morning.
The children are reported to be in a stable condition, however they have been taken to the RCH as a precaution to enable infectious disease experts to undertake tests.
An RCH spokeswoman confirmed two children under 10 were being tested for a range of infectious diseases, including the ebola virus.
“Two patients have been isolated at The Royal Children’s Hospital following admission this morning with an infectious disease,” she said.
“Specialist medical staff are caring for the patients, using the procedures and equipment in which they have been trained. The safety of staff and the community is paramount.
“Results of the diagnostic testing will be known within a few hours. The hospital is unable to provide further information about the patients or their conditions until the test results are known.”
Ambulance Victoria state health commander Paul Holman said the children were transfered from the airport in a stable condition.
“Ambulance Victoria paramedics were called to two children with elevated temperatures at Melbourne Airport just before 2am,” Mr Holman said.
“The children, aged under 10, were taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a stable condition.
“Paramedics took standard precautions used for infectious diseases and used personal protection equipment.
“Tests are being carried out by the hospital. Results should be known within a few hours.”
The Department of Health confirmed the patients had been isolated in accordance with universal infection control procedures.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said the children were being assessed for a range of infections including the Ebola virus.
“There is no evidence of these patients being at risk of contracting Ebola
Virus Disease — and the initial clinical assessment has suggested it is
exceedingly unlikely that the patients have Ebola,” Dr Lester said.
“And the broader community is not at risk of contracting the Ebola virus —
regardless of whether the patient has ebola.”
Under Victoria’s infectious disease protocols the RCH is designated to provide care for children under 16 for assessment suspected of a viral haemorrhagic fever, such as ebola.
The risk of passing an ebola infection from person-to-person is extremely low unless there has been direct exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, and it cannot be caught through coughing or sneezing.