A woman is being treated for Ebola-like symptoms at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after arriving in Perth from West Africa 10 days ago, according to reports.
The woman arrived in Perth from Kalgoorlie and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital before being transferred to the infectious diseases unit at Sir Charles Gardiner by two paramedics in full protective gear, according to Channel Nine.
BREAKING: Woman being treated in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital with
#Ebola-like symptoms. Flew from West Africa via Kalgoorlie to Perth. — Tiffany Wertheimer (@TiffWertheimer9)
September 22, 2014
A spokeswoman for Sir Charles Gairdner hospital confirmed the report on Tuesday morning.
"The hospital can confirm it has one patient who is currently being tested for Ebola and appropriate precautions are being taken until the patients illness is diagnosed," she said.
"For reasons of patient confidentiality, no further information can be provided about the patient."
She said the risk of people with Ebola virus travelling to Australia is considered to be very low, and that if travellers from West Africa did develop Ebola after their arrival in WA or anywhere else in Australia, our standard of care and infection control would mean there is a very low risk of transmission to other people.
A 27-year-old man who returned from the Congo to Queensland via Perth tested negative for the disease on September 11 at Gold Coast University Hospital, after presenting Ebola-like symptoms when he was caught allegedly trespassing at a Surfers Paradise high-rise.
A St John Ambulance spokesman said the ambulance service had reinforced their infectious disease protocols in response to the suspected case.
Metropolitan Ambulance Service general manager James Sherriff said St John had long-standing and established procedures for handling patients with a suspected infectious disease.
"Our crews are equipped with appropriate protective equipment including masks, glasses, overalls, over-boots and gloves," he said.
"We avoid the risk of exposure to other ambulance or hospital staff by limiting unnecessary patient contact.
"St John also provides early notification to the receiving infectious disease hospital as this is key to ensuring the best possible outcome for the patient and minimal risk to all treating clinicians."
More to come...
