Melbourne Ebola scare reveals how Australia would respond if the deadly virus reached our shores

When a traveller with possible Ebola symptoms arrived at a Melbourne hospital, Australia’s emergency response plans were immediately put to the test.

The man, who had recently travelled near the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, was isolated after presenting to an emergency department with symptoms consistent with the deadly virus.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Australia’s first Ebola scare in decades

He has since tested negative for Ebola, but infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Griffin told Sunrise the incident highlighted the importance of Australia’s preparedness for serious disease threats.

“This person had been to the area where we’re seeing a large number of cases, had potentially compatible symptoms,” Griffin said.

“But fortunately, this was considered as a diagnosis, and the plan was enacted, and this person isolated whilst awaiting test results that happened quickly.”

Griffin said the rapid isolation and testing of the patient demonstrated Australia’s existing protocols were functioning as intended.

The suspected case came as authorities continue to monitor an ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa.

Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause fever, vomiting, bleeding and organ failure, and has a high fatality rate in some outbreaks.

Griffin described it as “a good example of how it’s managed well” and said it was important for health services across the country to remain prepared to identify and isolate potential cases quickly.

“It’s probably something much more common that accounted for that person’s symptoms, but we certainly don’t want to be surprised and not consider it at the outset,” he said.

Despite the Melbourne scare, Griffin said the risk to Australia remains low.

When asked whether Australia should follow the US in restricting entry from impacted African nations, Griffin said such measures were not currently warranted.

“At the moment, the global risk is still considered as very low,” he said.

“We do have border security processes that are very good at if people do come to our country unwell.”

Instead, he said the focus should remain on strong surveillance, testing, and support for international efforts to control the outbreak overseas.

“It’s a terrible illness causing a huge death toll there. And at the moment, we probably still haven’t found the majority of cases,” Griffin said.

Ebola patients recover from illness in positive development

The Melbourne scare comes as five patients recover from a rare type of Ebola virus, the head of the World Health Organisation said during a visit to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a city at the heart of an outbreak.

“Four people will be discharged today and there was one that was discharged the day before yesterday,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the opening of a new Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.

“Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola,” he added.

The WHO said on Friday a patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo virus, the current species of Ebola, which has no approved treatment or vaccine. 

It was the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient during the current outbreak.

The health organisation said authorities have reported 134 confirmed cases in DR Congo and neighbouring Uganda, including 18 confirmed deaths as of May 29.

Baraka Bulambulu, one of those who recovered, told the Associated Press on Sunday that community members feared contracting an unknown illness from them, keeping their distance while delivering food and medicine. 

He said the uncertainty was overwhelming, as he and other patients believed they might die without knowing what disease they had although testing eventually confirmed Ebola.

“Being able to come out of this alive is an immense source of happiness,” Bulambulu said.

“Many people who were in the same situation died.”

Ezo Étienne, a nurse, said his symptoms began during ward rounds when he suddenly felt dizzy, then rapidly deteriorated into vomiting, intense itching, severe diarrhoea and extreme weakness.

He was tested seven times before Ebola was confirmed. 

His treatment remained purely to treat the symptoms: medications to control vomiting, fluids to prevent dehydration and pain relievers.

“That was all they could provide,” he said.

He urged the public and healthcare workers not to dismiss early symptoms such as vomiting and headaches, warning that misinformation leads many people to believe they have been poisoned rather than seeking hospital care.

The dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims’ bodies, which clash with local burial rites.

Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centres.

Tedros stressed the importance of involving the community in the outbreak response during the opening of the new treatment centre on Sunday.

“If you come to health facilities when you have symptoms, you can get the support and recover, so the key is to come forward as early as possible and to get the necessary support,” the WHO chief said.

“We can stop this Ebola and anyone who has it can also recover. But the rule ... is this thing is everybody’s business and every citizen should be involved,” he added.