EBOLA – Health Q&A’s for those planning to visit infected countries to
film or produce programmes
Q1 I would like to film in clinical areas/hospitals where Ebola patients are
being treated.
A1 This is a very high risk activity and will only be appropriate with careful high
level editorial justification and scrupulous control measures.
Patients with Ebola are cared for in clinics or hospitals where medical staff
protect themselves fully from contamination by infected body fluids from
patients. Even then we are aware that some medical and nursing staff have
caught the disease despite these protective measures so complete safety can
never be assured. Any filming would have to be agreed and supervised by a
reputable medical or health source in the country such as the WHO, Medicine
Sans Frontiers etc. Filming in these areas is very high risk, and specialised
advice will need to be sought. This will include taking an infectious disease
expert with you and adhering to strict infection control protocols. All
deployments must be approved through the High Risk Team. The WHO have
recommended that individuals who have been in close contact with
infected patients (except properly protected healthcare workers) should
not travel internationally for 21 days, and if there is any chance that you or
one of your team have been a close contact then you must adhere to this
advice. Please bear this in mind when planning any such very high risk
activity.
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Q2 I would like to interview patients who have the disease or are suspected of
having the disease.
A2 This is prohibited as it poses a significant risk of infection. If someone is
suspected of having the disease then they should be directed to health care and
testing facilities. It is unlikely someone with the disease would be fit enough to
be interviewed over the telephone.
Q3 I would like to interview families or carers of confirmed Ebola victims.
A3 This is prohibited face to face if the families have had contact with the patient
less than 21 days ago. If this is the case, or there is any doubt, then the
interviews can be carried out by phone. If the contact was more than 21 days
ago and the family members are well then normal contact is allowed, providing
you pay attention to preventative hygiene measures.
Q4 I would like to interview health care workers involved in the care of
confirmed Ebola victims.
A4 This is permitted providing the interview takes place outside the clinical setting,
the health care worker has been taking appropriate hygiene precautions in a
reputable establishment, and the health care worker is free from any health
symptoms. You must establish freedom from symptoms before inviting an
individual into BBC premises. If there is any doubt about whether someone has
symptoms then the interview should be conducted by phone.
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Q5 I would like to interview those who have had Ebola infection and
survived?
A5 This is permitted providing the interview is not taking place in a clinical
establishment or any other area where there is a risk of contact with other
symptomatic persons and the interviewee is symptom free and has been
declared ‘virus free’ by a reputable medical practitioner or treating centre. If this
declaration is not available, then interviews should be conducted by phone. You
must establish freedom from symptoms before inviting an individual into BBC
premises.
Q6 I would like to film in the vicinity of hospitals and clinics that are treating
Ebola patients or in areas where there have been cases and deaths.
A6 There is likely to be an exclusion zone imposed around infected areas or clinics
or establishments where patients are being assessed or treated and you should
observe this. Filming at a safe/long distance, where there is unlikely to be any
close contact with cases or suspected cases is permitted, providing appropriate
preventative hygiene measures are taken. Be aware that broadcasters can
attract attention and contact with the local population could occur.
Q7 What is designated as close contact for Ebola?
A7 Ebola Virus – Close contacts
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Someone who has nursed or cared for Ebola patients either by directly
touching the victim's body or by cleaning up body fluids (stools, urine or
vomit) that carry infectious blood.
Health Care Workers in Ebola clinics or treatment centres
Laboratory workers handling contaminated specimens
Individuals who have attended and participated in funerals where the
body has been touched after death.
Touching the soiled clothing of an infected person, then touching their
mouth
Those who have handled unsterilized needles or medical equipment
Having sex with an infected person without using a condom.
Other workers for example journalists, who in the course of their work
may be exposed to a similar risk of contact with symptomatic individuals
Q8 What are the recommended Preventative Hygiene measures in infected
countries?
A8
 Don't handle dead animals or their raw meat
 Don't eat 'bushmeat'
 Avoid contact with individuals who have symptoms
 Avoid having sex with people in risk areas; use a condom if you do
 Make sure fruit and veg is washed and peeled before you eat it
 Wash hands frequently using soap and water (alcohol hand rubs when
soap is not available), as this destroys the virus
 Avoid facial contact such as kissing with others, and if you do shake
hands then make sure you wash your hands before you eat, drink,
smoke, or touch your face.
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Q9 I am planning to return to my home country from an assignment in a high
risk country where I could have been exposed to Ebola Virus - what
should I do.
A9 You should monitor your own health, and if you develop symptoms, especially a
fever, then isolate yourself and seek medical advice without delay. – see Q11.
Do not travel internationally for 21 days if you have been a close contact of an
Ebola patient whilst filming in a health care setting.
Q10 Why are the BBC not quarantining individuals who have returned from
covering stories in Ebola infected areas?
A10 The risk of individuals picking up Ebola, unless they have been in close
contact with an individual suffering from the disease is extremely low, so
an arbitrary quarantine isn’t justified, especially as there are currently no
general restrictions on travel from infected countries or restrictions on
individuals going about their day to day lives.
At present we advise that anyone with health symptoms (which actually are
most likely to be caused by unrelated infections acquired abroad) who return
from Ebola areas to stay away from work, isolate themselves and seek
immediate medical advice – see Q11.
Note that the WHO now advise that those who have been in close contact with
an Ebola patient should not travel internationally for 21 days after the contact.
Q11 I have been in close contact with known Ebola infected individuals, what
should I do?
A11 If an individual has had a close contact with an Ebola patient as described in
Q6 then they must not travel internationally for 21 days, they need to monitor
their symptoms, particularly their temperature, and seek advice if they fall ill.
Q12 What should I do if I develop symptoms on return to the UK.
A12 If you feel unwell with symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches,
headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat or rash within 21 days of
coming back from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone, you should stay at home
and immediately telephone 111 or 999 (or the appropriate number in your
country of domicile) and explain that you have recently visited West Africa.
These services will provide advice and arrange for you to be seen in a hospital
if necessary so the cause of your illness can be determined.
There are other illnesses that are much more common than Ebola (such as flu,
typhoid fever and malaria) that have similar symptoms in the early stages, so
proper medical assessment is really important to ensure you get the right
diagnosis and treatment.
Q13 I have returned from an assignment where I have been in a country
where there are cases, but have not knowingly been in contact with
infected individuals or areas where they have been treated or cared for.
A13 The risk of catching Ebola virus in this circumstance is extremely low.
Nevertheless it is good practice to monitor your health for 21 days following
your return and if you develop any symptoms then follow the advice in Q11.
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Q14 Why is the risk of Ebola Virus in the UK low?
A14 The likelihood of catching Ebola virus disease is considered very low unless
you've travelled to a known infected area and had direct contact with a person
with Ebola-like symptoms, or had contact with an infected animal or
contaminated objects.
Also, Ebola victims do not become infectious until shortly before they develop
symptoms. The disease then progresses very rapidly. This means infectious
people do not walk around spreading the disease for a long period.
It typically takes 5-7 days for symptoms to develop after infection, so
there is time to identify people who may have been exposed, put them under
surveillance and if they show symptoms, quarantine them.
Q15 I may have been on a flight with someone with Ebola. Am I at risk?
A15 So far there have been no documented cases of people catching the disease
simply by being in the same plane as an Ebola victim.
EBOLA – General Q&A’s
Q1 How is Ebola Virus spread?
A1 Ebola Virus is very difficult to pass from person to person. In order to become
infected you have to be in contact with the body fluids, blood or organs of an
infected person.
Those at risk of catching the disease are those who are caring for infected
individuals, either by directly touching the victim's body or by cleaning up body
fluids (stools, urine or vomit) that carry infectious blood eg relatives or health
workers.
There is also a risk at funerals as in Africa it's common practice for mourners
to touch the body of the deceased. They only then need to touch their mouth to
become infected.
Other possible routes are :
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touching the soiled clothing of an infected person, then touching their
mouth
having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the virus is
present in semen for up to seven weeks after the infected person has
recovered)
handling unsterilised needles or medical equipment that were used in
the care of the infected person
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Q2 I live or am working in an infected country and I am worried about
catching Ebola Virus.
A2 Ebola virus disease is generally not spread through routine social contact (such
as shaking hands) with patients who do not have symptoms, however during an
outbreak such as this it is good practice to reduce or eliminate such contact and
pay scrupulous attention to infection avoidance measures and especially hand
washing.
The virus is not, for example, as infectious as diseases like the flu, as airborne
transmission is much less likely. You'd need to have very close contact with the
source of infection to be at risk.
Q3 Can I catch Ebola Virus from someone who doesn’t have symptoms now
but develops the disease later on?
A3
As far as current knowledge goes there is no risk of contracting Ebola Virus
from someone who may be incubating the disease but does not have current
symptoms.
Q4 I’ve heard that Ebola virus is fatal in 90% of cases – what’s the point in me
or my family going to hospital for treatment.
A4
There is growing evidence that those who seek treatment early for Ebola have a
better chance of surviving. Although there is no treatment, supportive care
significantly improves the outcome of the disease.
Q5 I want to invite individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola into BBC
buildings to conduct interviews.
A5 The WHO have recommended (8/8/14) that contacts of the disease (Which do
not include properly protected health workers) should be monitored daily, with
restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure.
Therefore such contacts should not be presenting themselves for interview at
BBC buildings and we should not invite individuals to break the rules.
At present as there are no restrictions on international travel for individuals who
are not direct contacts there is no reason why individuals from infected
countries or areas who have no symptoms should not be invited in to BBC
building for interviews. However before allowing them on site you need to be
assured that they are currently well and asymptomatic.
Dr ColinThomas C.M.O. 14/08/14
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