COP26: Scotland’s doctors on high alert for cases of killer diseases like Ebola during climate conference
DOCTORS have been put on high alert for cases of deadly illnesses including Ebola during COP26, The Scottish Sun can reveal.
An urgent memo issued to staff in Glasgow said there is a “high likelihood of travellers from the Tropics presenting with fever” during the massive climate summit.
Health bosses fear delegates could be struck down by killer infectious diseases, as one source claimed: “Ebola is a big worry. Absolutely no chances are being taken.”
COP26 visitors from nations known for deadly viruses like Ebola could be rushed to hospital if they get a temperature while in Scotland, it has emerged.
Doctors across the Glasgow area have been briefed to be on the lookout for people with symptoms of so-called “high consequence infectious diseases”.
The medical alert, sent as 30,000 delegates from nearly 200 nations gathered in the city in recent days, warned there was a “high likelihood of travellers from the Tropics presenting with fever during COP26”.
And it set out how individuals from certain countries with symptoms - such as a fever - could be taken to a specialist infectious diseases ward at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The memo, circulated in recent days, said clinical staff had already been issued with a “protocol” on dealing with cases of viral haemorrhagic fevers, or “VHFs”.
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VHFs are a category that Health Protection Scotland says include Ebola Virus Disease, Marburg Virus Disease, Lassa Fever, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, and Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome.
The memo, seen by The Scottish Sun, said that NHS Scotland infectious diseases experts “have fed back that they are concerned that there is a high likelihood of travellers from the Tropics presenting with fever during COP26”, and staff should have “already have received a VHF protocol” for dealing with potential cases.
It said people with fevers “can cause concern about possible high consequence infectious disease” or HCID - a type of illness where a high proportion of infected people are expected to die.
The email said the infectious diseases service was “available 24/7 to discuss these patients”, adding: “We now also have agreement that the ID Service will have an ability to admit suitable patients from across the Health Board to ward 5C at QEUH if required after discussion with ID on call.
“It is vital that we discuss these patients first as we will need to risk assess them for high consequence infectious disease as this would require a different admission pathway. A travel history is therefore essential in all patients presenting with fever.”
An NHS source said the QEUH would only be able to look after someone with an illness like Ebola for a “short time”, before they have to be transferred to an isolation unit. The UK’s only high level isolation unit is at London’s Royal Free Hospital.
A flowchart circulated among medics says that if a patient is confirmed as having a VHF, they should be transferred to the Royal Free, while their contacts are traced as part of “full public health actions”.
One insider said: “Being from certain countries - like in central Africa - and having a temperature or fever would be potential triggers for hospitalisation.
“Given how busy A&E units are, the last thing you want is someone with a virus like Ebola sitting around for hours with other patients.
“Medical staff at the COP26 summit itself have also been told to be on alert for the same reason.”
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesman said: “In line with standard public health protocols, our Infectious Diseases team has reminded staff to be aware of infections, given the large number of countries COP26 delegates come from.
“It is important to stress that there have been no reports of tropical infections associated with the event.”
High consequence infectious diseases - or HCIDs - are defined by factors including having a high “case-fatality rate”, they may not have effective treatment, and have an ability to spread in the community and within healthcare settings.
HIGH ALERT
The World Health Organization say there have been Ebola outbreaks over the past two years in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea.
Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is transmitted to people from wild animals.
It spreads through human-to-human transmission, and the average EVD “case fatality rate” - the proportion of confirmed infected people who die - is around 50 per cent.
Healthcare workers have often been infected while treating patients, including nurse and volunteer aid worker Pauline Cafferkey, 45, from Glasgow, who contracted the deadly disease in 2014 in Sierra Leone.
She was transferred from Glasgow to the high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free in 2014.
She recovered, but experienced a relapse and also developed meningitis in 2015. Ms Cafferkey in 2019.
Symptoms of EVD can be “sudden”, the WHO says, and include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and - in some cases - both internal and external bleeding.
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A COP26 spokesperson said: “We are working with the relevant health authorities and have rigorous measures in place to make sure COP26 is a safe event for all in attendance.”
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