A large scale drill, aimed at testing Malta's preparedness in the event an Ebola case surfaces here, has just ended. The 'patient' was assessed by health care workers and was transferred to Mater Dei.

The story, as prepared by the Health authorities, was as follows:

The 'patient' came to Malta on 4 November from Liberia on a connecting flight from Rome to Malta. On her arrival, she was assessed by a special medical team after she alerted the authorities that she had been to a high risk country in terms of Ebola.

On being screened at the airport, authorities monitored her and she was discharged. Three days later, today, the mother of the 'victim' called the hospital to alert the emergency services that her daughter developed a fever.

Members of the core team met urgently at Mater Dei and discussed the situation. From then on, members of the Civil Protection, police, the HAZMAT unit, two ambulances, the Major Accident Unit truck, members of the Infectious Disease Unit, nurses and health department officials were dispatched to the home of the 'victim', in Mosta.

A decontamination tent was set up outside the house and the area cordoned.

The patient was placed in an isolator. The ambulance was escorted by police to Mater Dei. The patient was then transferred to the secluded ward within the hospital, bypassing the emergency department, using a corridor which is used for this kind of cases.

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Last month, this newsroom was exclusively invited by Mater Dei's management to tour the isolation areas identified to deal with suspected cases of Ebola. This newsroom also was also shown the decontamination chamber set up outside the hospital's emergency department. During our visit, a drill held in line with protocol, was in progress in the Infectious Disease Unit's isolated wards.

Experts told this newsroom that Mater Dei adopted a 'buddy' system which incorporates three 'layers' of safety to deal with suspected Ebola cases, apart from the fact that a number of drills are being held frequently.

Michael Borg, consultant at the Infectious Control Unit, told this newsroom that the system Malta is using was never dreamt of by hospitals in Texas, which at the time was dealing with two cases of nurses who contracted Ebola.

The 'buddy' system, same as used in diving, is the involvement of a companion to ensure that procedures are being followed at all times by those involved in treating Ebola vicitms. Another procedure involves filming of the removal of the Ebola proof suits which is closely monitored by a central unit within Mater Dei Hospital. In addition, another person is assigned to the role of ensuring the suit is being removed correctly and per procedure.