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ON THE PROWL: Cats skipper Joel Selwood leads his team through training at Simonds Stadium this week ahead of the opening round of the AFL season. For JOHN VAN KLAVEREN’S analysis of the Cats’ hopes for 2015, turn Picture: REG RYAN to Indy Sport on page 29. 136980
Ebola scare in Geelong AMBULANCE officers went into biohazard emergency mode when they transported a suspected Ebola sufferer to Geelong hospital last month. The man displayed flu-like symptoms after recently returning from a cruise-ship tour that included Africa, a health care professional told the Independent. Ambulance crews adopted biohazard precautions when transferring him to hospital.
The Independent has seen private photos showing health staff in head-totoe protective gear while wheeling a patient on a gurney into emergency. The health care professional, who produced the images and spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Independent the patient was suspected of carrying the deadly Ebola virus. But Barwon Health denied any patients with “probable Ebola” had presented at the hospital. “Barwon Health has not had any patients with probable Ebola present at Uni-
versity Hospital Geelong,” spokesperson Kate Bibby said. “In accordance with the Victorian Ebola Disease Response Plan, no notifications were given regarding a patient with Ebola-like symptoms. “We treat all returning travellers who present with a fever as high risk and isolate them accordingly until investigations clear them. “As part of our preparedness for Ebola and other haemorrhagic disease, we actively practice the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including
access to and from the ambulance bay using this equipment.“ The case follows the testing of two children suspected of carrying Ebola at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital in February. Both were cleared. The virus has killed more than 8500 victims across western Africa, including 500 health care workers. Victorian health department spokesperson Bram Alexander said the state had a plan to deal with Ebola. “I can tell you with all honesty that
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Victoria remains Ebola-free and we have very robust processes in place to manage anyone who might be returning from those areas showing signs or symptoms of Ebola infection.” Mr Alexander could not say whether other suspected Ebola cases had been treated in Victoria. “There may have been others but they would have been dealt with in the appropriate way but we don’t flag cases. The thing is there are processes we’ve got at airports and elsewhere that kick into place and appropriate action is taken.”
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By NOEL MURPHY