Ebola Virus

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:36): My question is to the Minister for Health. What action has been taken both nationally and within South Australia in response to the current Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:36): I thank the member for Elder for her question. The largest ever recorded outbreak of Ebola virus infection is occurring in West Africa, principally in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with more than 8,000 cases and 4,000 deaths since it began around the middle of the year.

At the COAG Health Council last week, Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, briefed ministers on the current precautions being undertaken at Australia's borders and within the health system to protect Australians against the disease. Professor Baggoley pointed out that Ebola was not easily transmitted and that people are only infectious when they show symptoms. Nevertheless, commonwealth, state and territory health authorities have provided specific guidance to designated hospitals, paramedic and ambulance workforces, general practice and state-based quarantine and medical staff about how to isolate, test and treat a suspected Ebola case.

At the borders, the Australian government has put in place extra measures to address the low risk of Ebola to Australia. All airport border agencies are aware of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and border staff at our international airports identify and assess people from the affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo).

The commonwealth and all states and territories continue to work together on the response to the Ebola outbreak through the Australian Health Protection Principle Committee. Preparedness for Ebola virus within South Australia includes planning across several areas and is based on national guidelines. These were endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principle Committee and have been distributed to senior SA Health managers and clinicians.

To date, four people in South Australia have undergone testing for the Ebola virus. All had been considered low probability and tested as a precaution, and all tested negative. The Royal Adelaide Hospital, for adults, and the Women's and Children's Hospital, for children, are the designated quarantine hospitals to which confirmed and probable cases would be admitted. These sites have appropriate containment in isolation rooms, and infectious diseases and intensive care expertise, and are close to laboratory testing, though if cases exceeded capacity, particularly for isolation facilities, most other metropolitan and some country hospitals also have suitable isolation rooms.

Patients presenting to hospitals other than the quarantine hospitals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Low probability cases may be kept in isolation in these hospitals awaiting test results, and higher suspicion cases would be transferred. All hospitals and South Australian Ambulance Service and Medstar have procedures to manage patients with a travel history that indicates that Ebola virus should be considered as a possible diagnosis.

Constant readiness and the capacity to respond to changing circumstances are needed, as is well illustrated by the events in the United States in the last week. SA Health is well prepared for any possible Ebola virus cases and has had the opportunity to refine plans through debriefs conducted around the testing of possible cases over recent weeks, and it is actively involved in national preparedness through weekly teleconferences and regular communications with all jurisdictions.