‘What about Ebola readiness for VI?’ - Residents
“Chikungunya, Chikungunya, Chikungunya is all we hearing about and we have a serious issue that is quickly looking like it’s going to become a world pandemic that they are not giving any thought about. In fact I should say they are not telling the public about and have us living in fear,” said Ms Gloria Vanclave-Creque, a resident of Virgin Gorda.
That which she was speaking about is the Ebola virus which has now crept its way into neighbouring United States. “We are right there on the borders of the US. I say border just to show closeness,” she explained.
“Every day we have persons coming into this Territory from all over the world and we are at risk no matter how you look at it. The tourist season is now on us and we are not even hearing of a simple procedure that this government is putting into place to allay fears,” said Ms Vanclave-Creque.
Her concerns were also shared by several taxi drivers on Tortola, Ferry operators and other residents. According to one taxi driver the fact that there has been a number of instances where persons fall ill on cruise ships while docked in the VI, persons fall ill aboard yachts and other [vessels] is an indicator that the Territory should put some measures in place at the hospital if persons show any symptoms of Ebola.
“Our next door neighbour St. Thomas is on a massive move putting systems in place, they are having major education and safety drives going on over there right now and we here aren’t doing a thing. That is crazy. I know for sure I am fearful,” the woman said.
It was expressed that already persons have begun to develop a stigmatic behaviour against anyone especially who is visiting even if they simply cough.
“I can tell you as a taxi man I start moving some tourists that came in early in the season. Some come not from US straight but from far places and boy you wouldn’t believe how afraid I am when I simply hear any of them with a cough or looking sickish,” said a taxi driver.
“Don’t wait for something to happen before you take action… if y’all had done quarter of what you now doing Chikungunya wouldn’t be as rampant. If Ebola should creep in here the BVI wipe out because this is a very small place and our nurses and doctors have not been put at ready mode to deal with Ebola,” said a resident.
25 Responses to “‘What about Ebola readiness for VI?’ - Residents”
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
TB kills over 100 people a day in the USA and is an airborne disease. Are we prepared for that? Ebola is NOT airborne and you must come into contact with bodily fluids, secretions from an infected person to get infected. One dead in USA so far from ebola and another tested positive. The mainstream media really have you all stupid like f..k! "Run run the sky is falling!" The only thing BVI can do to stop Ebola or anything else is cancel all flights and cruise ships. Is that practical? NO! Stop the bulls..t noise man. What are you doing about Ebola?
There will be more flapping of jaws....but no meaningful action. zzzzzzzzz