1. 34 THE PRESS AND JOURNAL
September 2014 EnergySPOTLIGHT
Establishing
an effective
energy industry
response to Ebola
HEALTH CHECK
Dr Beau Dees
The world’s largest Ebola outbreak
has taken an enormous toll on the
West African population.
There is no vaccine, yet in previous
epidemics of the same strain, ade-
quate public health and infection con-
trol practices stopped the spread of
the disease.
While the full impact on its thriving
oil and gas industry remains to be
seen, energy companies are rightly
considering their response to this un-
precedented public health crisis.
This is evidenced by an increasing
number of calls from businesses, seek-
ing support and advice, being fielded
at our specialised resource unit, oper-
ating out of the Paris Assistance Cen-
tre.
Travel advice
Cases have now been confirmed in
Nigeria: the continent’s most popu-
lous nation, and its largest oil pro-
ducer.
However, all instances so far in the
country are as a result of contact with
a confirmed positive case imported
through Liberia: strict quarantine and
contact tracing has, so far, limited the
spread.
While the risk of contracting the
disease is low, we recommend anyone
feeling unwell should not travel to
Nigeria.
There is a danger that those who do
not have the disease, but are display-
ing Ebola-like symptoms, which in-
clude: fever, headache, sore throat,
muscle-aches and general malaise,
may be required to go to local health
facilities, which are also treating
Ebola patients, exposing them to the
illness.
We also strongly advise non-essen-
tial personnel to defer travel to
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone:
World Health Organisation-desig-
nated Tier 1 high-risk countries.
Avoidance advice
If people do travel, or are based in the
affected and neighbouring areas, they
should:
● Not have direct physical contact
with ill individuals and bodily fluids,
and items soiled with these fluids.
People who do not have symptoms
are not infectious.
● Avoid funerals
● Stay away from infected animals
and refrain from eating bush meat
● Exercise strict hygiene, including
frequent handwashing, and avoid
touching the face
Local context
Local healthcare and enforcement au-
thorities are already stretched, mean-
ing energy companies must take swift
and decisive action to minimise the
risk to their people, including provid-
ing clear advice and protective equip-
ment as well as screening.
Businesses with operations in West
Africa must consider how they will
implement their own travel restric-
tions; evacuate staff, as some are al-
ready doing; or respond to an ill trav-
eller returning from the continent.
So far, there have been no con-
firmed cases in travellers returning
home from the region, although some
have become ill and shown Ebola-like
symptoms.
Many locations are testing people
who have travelled to Ebola-affected
countries and returned with a fever
and other symptoms. To date none of
these have proven to be Ebola.
Dr Beau Dees is regional medical
director at International SOS
“We also strongly advise
non-essential personnel
to defer travel to
Guinea, Liberia and
Sierra Leone”
The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead,
London, is treating a British national
who was living in Sierra Leone and
who has tested positive for Ebola
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