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Ebola Virus
Precaution guidelines
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Introduction
Who is this guidance for?
The guidance is designed for crew to protect themselves, their colleagues, guests and others around them.
The guidance focuses on Ebola virus, but much of the advice here would also be good practice for reducing
the spread of other viral infections.
When should this guidance be put into practice?
You should read the guidance now and make preparations that need to be made well in advance of a
pandemic. While much of the guidance would not be implemented until there is a pandemic, some previous
preparation, such as supplies of materials (Lagaay precaution kit) and raising awareness, will help you be
ready to respond to a pandemic.
If and when the World Health Organization changes the alert level that it uses to guide worldwide planning,
you should then review your plans. At that point, everyone will be involved in the fight against the Ebola
virus in terms of preventing further spread of the infection.
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General Guidance
What is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease (also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever) is a rare and deadly disease. The disease is
native to several African countries and is caused by infection with one of the ebola viruses (Ebola, Sudan,
Bundibugyo, or Taï Forest virus). It is spread by direct contact with a sick person’s blood or bodily fluids. It
is also spread by contact with contaminated objects or infected animals.
Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by
diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Skin rash, red eyes, and internal and external bleeding may be seen in
some patients.
Who is at risk?
People could be infected if they come into contact with blood or body fluids from someone who is sick or
has died from Ebola, sick wildlife, or meat from an infected animal. Health care providers caring for Ebola
patients and family and friends in close contact with an ill person are at the highest risk because they may
come into contact with blood or bodily fluids.
What can people do to prevent Ebola?
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola, and many people who get the disease die.
Therefore, it is important to take steps to prevent Ebola.
Please make sure to do the following:
- Practice careful hygiene. Avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids.
- Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or bodily fluids.
- Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
- Avoid contact with animals or with raw meat.
- Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated.
What are the signs and symptoms of the Ebola virus?
- Fever
- Headache
- Achiness
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Rash
- Red eyes.
NOTE: Tell the doctor about the symptoms before you go to the office or emergency room. Advance notice
will help the doctor care for you and protect other people around you.
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Crew training and protective measures for Ebola virus
1. Crew should be aware of the symptoms of the Ebola virus and the measures to protect themselves
from acquiring the illness.
2. Crew should be informed of their duty to report any illness to the captain.
3. Crew should be instructed and/or updated in cleaning procedures.
4. Crew involved with cleaning the room of a symptomatic guest will require EBOLA PRECAUTION
EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit) . This should be put on before entering the room. Crew must
be informed about the importance of removing all used EBOLA PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay
Precaution Kit) and placing it in appropriate bags and ensuring that the bag is tied securely.
5. Crew must be instructed in the importance of frequent hand washing if they are involved in cleaning
or are in personal care of persons with (suspected) Ebola virus.
Putting On And Removing Personal Protective Equipment
The level of EBOLA PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit) used will vary based on the
procedures being carried out and not all items of EBOLA PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT will always be required.
Standard infection control precautions apply at all times. The instructions given here for putting on EBOLA
PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit) is practical but the instructions for putting on is less
critical than the order of removal:
a) Coverall (or apron if not aerosol-generating procedure)
• Fully cover torso from head to feet, arms to end of wrists.
b) FFP3 respirator (or surgical mask if not aerosol generating procedure)
• Secure ties or elastic bands at middle of head and neck
• Fit flexible band to nose bridge
• Fit snug to face and below chin
• Fit-check respirator
c) Goggles or face shield (aerosol-generating procedure and as appropriate after risk assessment)
• Place over face and eyes and adjust to fit
d) Disposable gloves
• Extend to cover wrist of coverall if worn.
• Put on two pairs.
e) Shoe cover
• Extend to cover foot of coverall if worn.
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f) Haircap
• Extend to cover top of head if worn.
g)Thermometer non contact
• When infection is suspected, please use the thermometer as per the instructions provided.
h)Biohazard spills kit
Content:
5x 60ml Disinfectant spray
5x Disposable gloves (pair)
5x Scoop&Scraper
5x Bio Hazard Bag
5x Disinfectant wipe
5x Polythene Apron
5x Sachet of super Absorbent powder
The order for removing EBOLA PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit) is important to reduce
cross contamination so the order outlined below always applies even if not all items of EBOLA
PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit) have been used:
a) Gloves
Assume the outside of the glove is contaminated:
• Grasp the outside of the gloves with the opposite gloved hand; peel off
• Hold the removed gloves in gloved hand
• Slide fingers of the ungloved hand under the remaining gloves at wrist
• Peel second gloves off over first gloves
• Discard appropriately
b) Coverall
Assume the coverall front and sleeves are contaminated:
• Unfasten coverall
• Pull coverall away from the neck and shoulders, touching the inside of coverall only
• Turn the coverall inside out
• Fold or roll into a bundle and discard appropriately
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c) Goggles or face shield
Assume the outside of goggles or face shield is contaminated:
• To remove, handle by head band or ear pieces
• Discard appropriately
d) FFP3 Respirator or surgical mask
Assume the front of respirator/surgical mask is contaminated:
• Untie or break bottom ties, followed by top ties or elastic and remove by handling ties only
• Discard appropriately
Perform hand hygiene immediately after removing all EBOLA PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT (Lagaay
Precaution Kit).
To minimize cross-contamination, the order outlined above should be applied even if not all items of EBOLA
PRECAUTION EQUIPMENT have been used.
Clean hands thoroughly (maniclean, alcohol swabs) immediately after removing all EBOLA PRECAUTION
EQUIPMENT (Lagaay Precaution Kit).
If you have any questions as a result of reading above mentioned information, please do not hesitate to
contact us at [email protected].
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