Czech Ebola error sparks Ghana row
- Published
Czech medical workers have sparked a diplomatic row after they covered a Ghanaian student in black plastic and rushed him to quarantine over unfounded fears that he had Ebola.
The student was apparently suffering nothing more than a bad cold.
Ghana's Prague envoy Zita Okaikwe told the BBC that her government would lodge a formal complaint over the incident.
Ghana has not been affected by the worst ever Ebola outbreak, which has killed thousands in West Africa.
The Czech government has not commented on the incident.
A video clip from Russian media purportedly showing the incident has been widely shared on YouTube.
The student apparently cleared airport security, but was later picked up at Prague's main railway station.
Many Ghanaians are outraged about the way the student was treated, reports the BBC's Sammy Darko from Accra.
Ms Okaikwe said the student had been left traumatised by the experience.
- Avoid direct contact with sick patients as the virus is spread through contaminated body fluids
- Wear goggles to protect eyes
- Clothing and clinical waste should be incinerated and any medical equipment that needs to be kept should be decontaminated
- People who recover from Ebola should abstain from sex or use condoms for three months
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Protective Ebola suit
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Surgical cap
×The cap forms part of a protective hood covering the head and neck. It offers medical workers an added layer of protection, ensuring that they cannot touch any part of their face whilst in the treatment centre.
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Goggles
×Goggles, or eye visors, are used to provide cover to the eyes, protecting them from splashes. The goggles are sprayed with an anti-fogging solution before being worn. On October 21, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced stringent new guidelines for healthcare personnel who may be dealing with Ebola patients. In the new guidelines, health workers are advised to use a single use disposable full face shield as goggles may not provide complete skin coverage.
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Medical mask
×Covers the mouth to protect from sprays of blood or body fluids from patients. When wearing a respirator, the medical worker must tear this outer mask to allow the respirator through.
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Respirator
×A respirator is worn to protect the wearer from a patient's coughs. According to guidelines from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the respirator should be put on second, right after donning the overalls.
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Medical Scrubs
×A surgical scrub suit, durable hospital clothing that absorbs liquid and is easily cleaned, is worn as a baselayer underneath the overalls. It is normally tucked into rubber boots to ensure no skin is exposed.
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Overalls
×The overalls are placed on top of the scrubs. These suits are similar to hazardous material (hazmat) suits worn in toxic environments. The team member supervising the process should check that the equipment is not damaged.
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Double gloves
×A minimum two sets of gloves are required, covering the suit cuff. When putting on the gloves, care must be taken to ensure that no skin is exposed and that they are worn in such a way that any fluid on the sleeve will run off the suit and glove. Medical workers must change gloves between patients, performing thorough hand hygiene before donning a new pair. Heavy duty gloves are used whenever workers need to handle infectious waste.
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Apron
×A waterproof apron is placed on top of the overalls as a final layer of protective clothing.
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Boots
×Ebola health workers typically wear rubber boots, with the scrubs tucked into the footwear. If boots are unavailable, workers must wear closed, puncture and fluid-resistant shoes.