Siriraj to get new device for Ebola testing

Clinical Prof Udom Kachintorn, dean of Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, told the “Siriraj Infection Control Days 2014” annual seminar yesterday that the virus was expected to last for more than a year, pointing out that the number of patients was high due to quick cross-border travelling. 

As for Siriraj’s prototype antibody for Ebola haemorrhagic fever treatment being tested at the US-based National Institutes of Health, results should be released by the end of this month, he said. 

Dr Udom added that after a national coordination committee on the prevention of new epidemics resolved to establish six more Ebola-screening labs, including at Siriraj, the hospital decided to order this device which can give immediate blood-test results. He said this would be the country’s first and that such a machine had been sold overseas to countries that do not have a Level 4 lab. 

As for controlling infections, he called on people to wash their hands often to prevent germs from passing. 

The most effective way to clean hands is: rub soap on both palms and between all fingers; rub each palm on the back of the hands and between fingers; rub the back of each finger joint; rub around each thumb; rub in circles on both palms; and rub around both wrists before rinsing and drying.