Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/495652
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2015 3 News MARTINA BORG EBOLA was brought to Malta yes- terday, but only in a simulated exer- cise, aimed to train staff – airport and medical among others – in handling an emergency situation. The simulation was of a patient with a highly infectious disease landing at the Malta International Airport. The director of the newly estab- lished Directorate of Critical Infra- structural Protection, John Agius, said that emergency exercises were aimed to better prepare the airport for emergency scenarios. "The directorate was created as a response to the perceived need for better coordination and organi- sation on a national level. It aims to improve safety and emergency responses, which are at the top of MIA's priority list," Agius said. The "patient" in question arrived in Malta on board an Air Malta flight from Tunisia which landed at 10 in the morning. The patient, a woman, had previously visited Si- erra Leone and showed symptoms qualifying as a Grade 4 disease in- cluding fever and bleeding. Michael Spiteri, consultant of the emergency department at Mater Dei hospital explained that follow- ing a call from cabin crew to air traffic control, Port Health serv- ices would immediately be noti- fied to assess the situation. "In the eventuality that the reported symptoms are considered suspi- cious, public health would then be notified, and representatives from the two organisa- tions would be taken to the aircraft once it has safe- ly landed." Spiteri said that following an in- spection of other passengers on the flight, and the provision of a list of passengers and their seating organization, pas- sengers would be labelled high or low risk according to their proximity to the patient. "Other passengers would then be allowed to leave the aircraft on foot, with those labelled high risk being ac- companied by Port Health officials. A hazmat unit would then collect the patient and transport her to the appropriate department at Mater Dei Hospital," Spiteri said. The patient was taken off the plane in an isolation stretcher and then to the Decontamination Unit, where both staff and the stretcher itself were profusely sprayed with disinfectant to ensure as little con- tamination as possible. Spiteri also explained that large scale simulations such as the one held yesterday were not so com- mon, but the airport often organ- ised table top exercises to analyse resources and the practices need- ed. Agius reiterated that Malta need- ed a national risk assessment plan exercise to prepare the country in all the various aspects involved in a potential emergency. He added that there were around six or seven large scale simulations at the air- port every year. MARTINA BORG EBOLA was brought to Malta yes- terday, but only in a simulated exer- cise, aimed to train staff – airport to leave the aircraft on foot, with those labelled high risk being ac- companied by Port Health officials. A hazmat unit would then collect the patient and transport her to the appropriate department at Mater MIA simulates evacuation procedure for infectious diseases PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD