NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Sept 9 — The authorities in this southern Thai province rehearsed an Ebola response plan at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport today.
According to Nakhon Si Thammarat Public Health Office Chief Dr Utumporn Kambhu na Ayudthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the 15 provinces on the Ebola watch list published by the Ministry of Public Health.
Health professionals and officers of Nakhon Si Thammarat Public Health Office and Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital rehearsed procedures in preparation for possible Ebola cases arriving from abroad.
The procedure started with air traffic controllers receiving a report from an inbound flight that a suspected Ebola case was on board, followed with emergency response and coordination by concerned departments.
For handling of the patient, a medical team in protective suits began separating the suspected Ebola patient by transferring the patient to a special emergency vehicle to an infection control room at the hospital specially prepared for the disease control measures.
Medical team then worked on screening airport staff and other people with close contact with the patient, who will be monitored for his or her health condition for the following 21 days.
The exercise was ordered by the ministry to prepare for possible Ebola infected people who may arrive on a plane.
