Australian MP Slams Aid Workers For Bringing Ebola Risk in Country
Australian MP Bob Katter lashed out at humanitarian aid workers for creating Ebola risk in Australia. According to reports, Katter slammed quarantine authorities after a 57-year-old nurse returning from Sierra Leone was isolated and tested for Ebola.
Sue-Ellen Kovack had come home to Australia last weekend after working for the Red Cross in Sierra Leone, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus, which has already killed more than 3,800 people in West Africa.
Kovack returned to her home in Cairns where she was placed under quarantine, according to the standard protocol. She was then admitted to the hospital on Oct. 9 after developing a low-grade fever. Authorities revealed the next day that the Australian nurse had tested negative to Ebola.
Following the news of the latest Ebola scare in the country, Katter said in The Sydney Morning Herald, SMH, report that it was "unbelievable and incomprehensive" that a person can enter Australia from a country infected with Ebola. The outspoken MP slammed aid workers and said they must be placed under quarantine for three weeks and should not be allowed for home quarantine.
Australian Medical Association head Brian Owler reacted to Katter's statements. Owler believes the MP gave a "hysterical" response to the situation and called for calm. He said it is not the time to be hysterical but for Australia to dedicate more resources to help stop the Ebola outbreak in Africa, SMH reports. Owler believes more humanitarian aid workers are needed to help control the virus.
Katter had said aid workers like Kovack were putting Australia at risk to Ebola. No matter how laudable their actions for their selfless deeds, they still put the country at risk, Katter said. Contrary to Katter's strong response, Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young only praised Kovack for working in the Red Cross.
Meanwhile, an Ebola vaccine produced by Glaxo Smith Kline is now ready for human trials. The vaccine is being tested on healthy volunteers. Reports said the vaccine proved to be effective on primates. Chief researcher Adrian Hill in the UK said the development of the vaccine trial was done below four weeks when normally it would take about six months to get a trial started. The World Health Organisation has exerted efforts to accelerate Ebola research without scientists being reckless with data.