Ebola precautions for Rotorua

A sign at Lakes Primecare.

Plans are being put in place to ensure Rotorua and Taupo hospitals are prepared for the possibility of a suspected ebola case.

And a Rotorua walk-in health clinic is also taking precautions, with a sign on its door warning those with symptoms of the disease not to enter.

Lakes District Health Board senior managers and clinical staff met last week to "discuss plans and ensure the DHB is prepared", the board said in a statement.

The identified issues were "currently being progressed", it said.

"Although the risk of anyone presenting at a Lakes District Health Board hospital suspected of having ebola remains low, the DHB is taking the need to prepare for any possibility of it very seriously."

It said communication between primary care in Rotorua and Taupo, Toi Te Ora Public Health and the health board was being strengthened to ensure smooth planning.

Infectious disease plans were already in place at the hospitals.

At Lakes Primecare on Tutanekai St, a sign in the entrance advises those who have a fever over 38.5C, have travelled outside New Zealand to or from an affected country in the last 21 days, or have had contact with a suspected contact or anyone showing symptoms of Ebola to return to their car immediately and call the hospital or the health helpline.

Lakes Primecare chairwoman Rosalind Wilson said the clinic was following Ministry of Health guidelines.

"We are obviously concerned about the possibility and are therefore being proactive in protecting our community."

The sign had been a topic of conversation with patients, she said.

Other hospitals around the country are also preparing for the possibility of the disease, despite no cases being reported in New Zealand.

Auckland's Middlemore Hospital has established a new infectious diseases biocontainment unit which is able to assess and manage patients with suspected highly infectious diseases.

Although the risk to New Zealand remains low, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said we couldn't guarantee we would not get a suspected case in New Zealand.

New Zealand Customs has screened 66 people since additional border checks were introduced in early August.

More information on ebola is available at www.health.govt.nz.

Any traveller who feels unwell after returning home should call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or phone their GP or hospital before visiting to tell them their travel history.