Interpretation of bringing Ebola hemorrhagic fever into the quarantinable infectious disease management system

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-10-23

6. The ninth article of the law stipulates that when a quarantinable infectious disease breaks out in China or abroad, the health administration department under the State Council shall immediately report it to the State Council and decide to take some or all of the following quarantine measures: (1) Block land and river borders...; (4) Appoint the first entry port and landing airport. Ships and aircraft from epidemic areas abroad shouldn't enter other ports or airports without passing the first entry port and landing airport, except for emergencies or other special reasons.

7. The third section of the 19th article of the law stipulates that sanitary supervision will be carried out at frontier ports. Quarantine inspection, epidemic disease monitoring, sanitary supervision and treatment will be given to inbound and outbound transportation tools, personnel, containers, corpses, skeletons, baggage, goods and postal parcel that might transmit quarantinable infectious diseases.

At the moment, Ebola hemorrhagic fever is running amok in four West African countries. What disease prevention and control measures have other countries applied?

At present, the international community has taken various measures to deal with the epidemic outbreak. Although the WHO advised against any travel or trade restrictions towards affected countries, many countries have adopted strict precautions against Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The US has evacuated relatives of diplomatic personnel from Liberia and Sierra Leone, and issued travel warnings. It raised the domestic emergency response mechanism to the top level and stated clearly that returned personnel should be put under medical observation. Those with exposure risks will be confined. Germany has strongly advised against travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and set up quarantine stations in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich airports. If passengers show Ebola symptoms, they will be sent to a quarantined hospital right after the plane lands. Japan brought Ebola into the category A infection disease management system in 1998, asking patients or suspected cases to receive quarantined diagnosis and treatment. It also restricts their freedom and applies lockout measures on possibly infected areas if necessary. British Airways and Emirates Airlines announced that flights to three West African countries have been cancelled for the moment. Brazil's health ministry has conducted strict inspections of inbound passengers and sanitary conditions at various airports since August 4. The Burmese government has stepped up epidemic detection of entry-exit personnel and established quarantine areas in medical institutions. Zambia has barred entry of residents from Ebola-hit areas. Cote d'Ivoire has prohibited all flights and passengers from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Zimbabwe, Romania, Cameroon and Namibia have also adopted different disease prevention and control measures.

How will prevention and control measures be adjusted after Ebola hemorrhagic fever is brought into the quarantinable infectious disease management system?

At present, all national ports have followed the requirements of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and carried out port quarantine measures on transportation tools, relevant personnel and cargo.

In addition, based on the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law and the Enforcement Regulation of the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, after Ebola is brought into the quarantinable disease management system, the following measures will be taken at frontier ports:

1. Quarantinable epidemic victims should be brought under quarantine measures, compulsorily if necessary. Suspected cases should be put under observation. Corpses of quarantinable epidemic patients have to be cremated.