With the recent suspected case of the Corona Virus in neighboring Ivory Coast, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has said that it has put in place several measures to prevent the virus from entering the country.
NPHIL acting Director General Mosoka Fallah told journalists Tuesday that his institution is working with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that Liberia is safeguarded from the Corona Virus.
He said everyone coming into the country most, especially from China, is being tested and if the need arises will be isolated.
He said the NPHIL is contemplating on building a specialized space where people coming from China will be tested and if they are showing symptoms of the virus be moved to the isolation area at the airport and later move to the Redemption Hospital on the outskirts of Monrovia for further care.
“We are in collaboration with the Liberia Immigration Service to go back to the database of all arrivals from China both business people, Chinese and international students from the beginning of January at the time of the disease outbreak in China.
According to Dr. Fallah, the NPHIL has developed a national plan to look at the entire country given the fact that the virus can be spread by those not showing the symptoms.
According to media reports, since the disease outbreak in China early January at least 106 infected persons have died, while more than 4,600 cases confirmed in mainland China.
Corona virus is a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, the virus causes respiratory infections, which are typically mild but, in rare cases, can be lethal.
In cows and pigs they may cause diarrhoea, while in chickens it can cause an upper respiratory disease. There are no vaccines or antiviral drugs that are approved for prevention or treatment.
The virus has been confirmed and reported in France, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan and the United States.
An Ivorian student who traveled from Beijing, China to Abidjan experienced symptoms of the virus and has been tested positive.
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