As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares Ebola to be running “out of control”, two Portuguese hospitals are reported to be ready to receive people infected with the deadly virus.
Talking on Friday, Portugal’s deputy health director Graça Freitas said that anyone infected with the virus would be sent to Lisbon’s Curry Cabral, or Porto’s São João Hospital.
As airline companies all over the world began suspending flights in and out of West Africa, Freitas was questioned as to whether there was a heightened risk for Portugal now that TAP has renewed its airlink with Guinea Bissau. Her answer was that the risks were being “evaluated all the time” and that there could well be a change in sight.
Meantime, the virus that kills up to 90% of the people who catch it is reported to have now claimed the lives of over 730, with two infected American health workers battling for their lives back in isolation in the U.S.
Stressing nonetheless that the risk to Portugal remains low, Freitas added that if a child was found to be infected with Ebola in Portugal, he or she would be referred to Lisbon’s children’s hospital Dona Estefânia.
Meetings with INEM and the Ricardo Jorge Institute have also taken place, she told reporters, to ensure that Portugal is prepared for all eventualities.
“We have to be prepared and hope that nothing happens”, she said.
