Health
minister Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh has called on Gambians to remain vigilant and
to report any suspected person with the symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
During
a press briefing at the residence of World Health Organisation (WHO)
representative in Kotu on Wednesday, Dr. Samateh said his ministry is on alert
and looking on points of entry, with the support of their WHO partner.
He
added that a lot of trainings are ongoing to know more about the virus, how to
detect it and protect themselves. He said a health emergency team was launched
on Wednesday to put on necessary measures.
“We
have started screening at the airport by using a very sensitize camera that
easily detects temperature from a far distance. Anyone detected with some of
the symptoms will be kept for 14 days and check whether he/she gets the virus.”
The
WHO representative, Dr. Desta A Tiruneh, in a presentation explained that the
coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the
common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiration syndrome
(MERS) and Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome (SARS).
“The
new coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in
humans. Some transmit easily from person to person, while others do not.”
Among
the signs and symptoms, he said is fever, cough, shortness of breath and
breathing difficulties, pneumonia, severe acute respiration syndrome and kidney
failure and even death.
He
continued to indicate the current situation of the virus on 3rd February
globally is 17391 confirmed cases and 2838 are new.
What
WHO is doing about the epidemic, he replied that they have developed protocol
for investigation of early cases; regular contact with member states where
cases have been reported and informing other countries on the situation, and
more.
In
the claim that boiled garlic can cure the virus, he replied in the negative,
saying there is no medicine for the virus.
