The Biosafety challenges Greece is facing today, one year after the unthinkable refugee crisis, under unbearable austerity terms, while Europe and the West are on the alert for any possible BW attack…
Go to our fully updated page by Greek to me !
Stay with us! This is Greek to me !
the 24/7 moodhacking Mobile Guide to navigate your way to Greek Health, Wellness and Happiness, and inform you on your Safety Guidelines
Click, Sense and stay. Follow Greece, share Greek2m!
The relatives of the lost up to now passengers of Norman Atlantic are day by day crying in agony, two weeks+, now, after the disaster, without having from the authorities a word .Talking on the Greek media, and -trying still to keep their hope alive-, they describe how each family of them , tryied to follow up the movements of their beloved ones, and how unexplainably, their relative’s traces were lost. Some families believe their relative might be in a hospital in Italy, and nobodyof them can accept that uncountable numbers of bodies are not found .
Greece today announced that the missing people are only nine( !) while ,the last week this number was 19. No explanations are given. Meanwhile, the Greek media reproduce the recent Italian authorities’ quote, that missing passengers might have disappeared because they might have been eaten by the sharks …
Autopsies will be carried out in the presence of a marine biologist after investigators said at least one of the nine bodies recovered from the sea presented with wounds resembling shark bites, the reports said.
Day to day, filled up with pain and horror for the unthinkable accident, relatives almost re-experience the horrible hours on that ferry, where help was not there, alarms had not been ringing, and lots, and lots of people were mysteriously lost.
About 43 passengers from the Norman Atlantic who arrived in the Greek capital as survivors, described fighting in dispair to escape form the live hell : “caught among flames, pelting rain and passengers who fought others to be rescued”, wrote the The Associated Press
The death toll from the ferry fire remains officially still ,11 persons that are announced.
Since the first moments of the Rescue Operation, the unaccounted lives- bodies- persons- and- souls, vary from 9 , that the Greek authorities announced today, January 13, to 98 that the Italian prosecutor had in Italy announced on December 29, and also to the nr. of 179, as also Italian Prosecutor Volpe appears by the Italian media have said at the first hours of the disaster.
It is still not clear whether the people missing had drowned, or whether they had failed to board the ferry, or burned in the ship helpless.
In Greece, the story about the floating flaming ditch is presented officially by the Ministers of Maritime and of Defense, since the early first day, by these points;
“eleven deaths-ninteen/nine missing-
very bad communication with Italy,
very bad weather to look for answers,
and,,, also, a confessed by Greek and Italian authorities possibility of these “unidentified” persons on the lists to be “just immigrants” that boarded simply illegally…..”
It is still unclear how many people, including illegal immigrants, had boarded without being recorded.
The Italian prosecutor investigating the case, said Afghan stowaways were among the survivors who were rescued.
“Given that the ship was indisputably carrying illegal migrants who were probably hidden in the hold, we fear that we’ll find more dead people once we recover the wreck,” prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe said.
A Greek survivor who talked on Italian and Greek TV, said he had been in the garage area, where the immigrants were quite a lot .At least 5, he said, was the number he had seen , “moving like shadows” . But he also stated, the immigrants were lighting fire in the garage to warm up, since the temperature in there was very low .
It seems possible that the fire could have start in the garage, if the survivors’ testimony come true, since there were trucks carrying oil on board, as some of the passengers have said. But no definite statement or discussion is further made on that, also, by the authorities in Greece so far. Fears are, no news are going to be heard as the national elections ( Jan.25), come close.
Reports from the authorities on Patras port say the Safety Control that took place 9 days before the fatal trip, had been alarming for the fire doors that were not working properly, and this, according to marine engineers, is considered the most serious factor that le the fire to spread to the entire ship .
The rescue operation was also conducted amid considerable danger and panic. Rescued passengers said the crew on board was unable to cope.
Captain Giacomazzi appeared on his testimony to insist that “all safety procedures were respected” –which sharply diverges from the testimony of survivors, who said that passengers fought to be rescued and that the crew were nowhere to be seen as the blaze spread out of control.
They said they received no instructions from crew members, that no alarm was given and that the deck of the ship became so hot that their shoes started melting.
Ute Kilger, a passenger from Munich, described how she saw a middle-aged man shove past women, children and the elderly to ensure he was winched to safety by a helicopter before them.
“He just went and sat in the basket, which was clearly designed for children. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” the 45-year-old lawyer told Italian media “I was finally finally lucky, I was saved after nearly 24 hours. This is a long time to fill with hope and with fear that you will die.”
It would be ideal for any of the authorities ,in charge in Greece today for the immigration and trafficking through the country, (let’s say for the Ministries of Internal Affairs, of Maritime , and of Health, and for all the Departments and organizations of the Greek state for Safety), to be in the position to say that all immigrants in the country are checked at the entrance points and medically screened .
At least, this is what reports from the islands say, and what the Urgent Circulates that where sent to all ports of the country, and to all the immigrants’ entry points, by the Greek Center of Disease Control ( HCDCP) in Octob.2014, show . By the circulates which emphasize on the Guidelines for the shield of the country for communicative diseases and especially Ebola,
–Maritime Companies should be aware and vigilant on protecting the health of the passengers, and should be on the alert for any possible symptoms associated with Ebola infection, especially in cases of passengers that might have visited Ebola affected areas
–the Coast Guard, the Greek Police, border guards and all the personnel involved in the procedures of the management of the illegal immigrants newcomers are informed for all the preventive measures that are required, by clear and simple instructions,, primarily for the direct identification of the origin country of the incoming immigrants, and also for the necessity of making obligatory the immediate medical evaluation.….
As Greek to me first exclusively has revealed, since early summer 2014, it has been a common practice for over seven months now, to let immigrants from the Aegean islands travel on commercial lines by the ferries to Athens, where they are allowed to stay for one month.
As anyone can easily guess , the trip from Patras to Italy by the ferry , is just the next piece of the trafficking road to the rest of Europe.
By the Norman Atlantic disaster, one of the tragic elements of the story that came to light is for sure.
Immigrants frequently travel that way and usualy are unidentified and unknown. In numbers, place of origin and, of course, names.
Is that proper, in the womb of Europe ?
• The Circular
Updated guidelines for the prevention of Ebola virus at the entrance points of the illegal immigrants in Greece has set the New Circular released by the General Secretary of Public Health, that is addressed to the staff of all the First Reception Centers and the Immigrants’ Detention Centers , the Coast Guard, the Greek Police, border guards and all the personnel involved in the procedures of the management of the illegal immigrants newcomers .
By the Circular, they’re described in detail all the preventive measures that are required, by clear and simple instructions,, primarily for the direct identification of the origin country of the incoming immigrants, and also for the necessity of making obligatory the immediate medical evaluation.
The Medical Screening Teams in the Detention Centers and the First Reception Centers, are required to complete a Screening Sheet with the travel history of the new coming immigrants , IN DETAIL, from the immigrants’ origin countries, and down the routes of trafficking that brought them to Greece. By this procedure any immigrants that might derive from West Africa .it is obligatory to be tracked
In case migrants have to be put into compulsory attendance for 21 days, the Medical Screening Team is asked to send daily to the Greek Center of Disease Control, (HCDCP/KEELPNO) a completed special form for the “Daily Statement of New Entrants Persons Affected countries. “
• Special Training and education Program
.
A special Training, Information and Education Program is carried step by step and to all the Aegean islands and the border areas as to urgently shield biologically the the country from Ebola virus
The intensive Program which has started since the mid of October , is implemented by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) at the entrance gates of the country,
with particular emphasis on the North Aegean islands, Dodecanese and Evros, where mostly illegal immigrants arrive. These days the Program is taking place at Rhodes island, the premier arrival point in terms of numbers , since the summer months of 2014.
The Greek CDC (HCDCP) stressed in a statement that, the information and training of the existing staff at the entrance points of illegal immigrants and the Detention Centers is considered essential for the preparation and shielding of the country from possible Ebola case introduction involiving all the staff of the Immigration, Citizenship and Identity Centers, the, Security Forces (Police, Coast Guards) , Regional Asylum Offices, Border Guard Service, as well as health professionals involved in the reception, management and treatment of new entrants people without legal documents.
Below is the Program of the Training and Information with indicative dates as it is developed and organized by the General Directors’ and the Presidents’ office of the Greek CDC by the Zoonoses Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention Office of the Greek CDC( HCDCP/ KEELPNO), and is implemented with the cooperation of local stakeholders
1. Region of Northern Aegean (EE Lesvos and Lemnos, Samos and Ikaria EE, EE Chios)
On 11/18/2014:
• GN Mytilene “Vostaneio”
• Health Centers Antissa, Kalloni Plomariou, Polichnitou,
• First Reception Centre Lesvos
• Identification Center of Lesvos Greek Police
• Central Port of Mytilene
• Police Department Lesbos
• Regional Office Asylum Lesbos
On 19/11/2014
• Samos General Hospital “Agios Panteleimon”
• Health Center Karlobasioy
• First Reception Centre Samos
• Central Port Samos
• Police Department Samos
• Center for Immigration Citizenship and Identity Greek Police Samos
On 21/11/2014
• Skylitseio General Hospital of Chios
• Health Center Pyrgi
• Central Port of Chios
• Police Department Chios
• Center for Immigration Citizenship and Identity Greek Police Chios
On 25/11/2014
• G.N.- Health Center Lemnos
• Port Myrinas- Lemnos
• Police Directorate Limnos
On 11/27/2014
• General Hospital – Health Center Ikaria
• Health Center Evdilos
• Central Port Ikaria
• Police Department Ikaria
2. Regional Section Evros
On 11/24/2014
• University Hospital of Alexandroupolis
• 216 KICHNE Alexandroupolis
• Centre for Health Feron
• Regional Office for Southern Evros Asylum
• Police Directorate of Alexandroupolis
• Border Guard Services of Lucky and Feron
On 26/11/2014
• General Hospital Didymoteichou
• 219 KICHNE Didymoteichou
• Health Centers Soufliou, Orestiadas, Righteous
• First Reception Centre Orestiadas
• Police Department Orestiadas
• Center for Immigration Citizenship and Identity Greek Police Ebro
• Border Guard Services Didymoteichon Orestiadas, silk, Carp, New Vissa
3. Regional Section Dodecanese:
On 12/02/2014
• General Hospital of Rhodes
• Health Centers and Archangel Emponas
• Regional Office Asylum Rhodes
• Police Directorate Rhodes
• Central Port of Rhodes
On 12/03/2014
• Vouvaleio General Hospital – Health Center Kalymnos
• Police Department Kalymnos
• Central Port of Kalymnos
On 04/12/2014
• State Hospital – Health Center Leros
• Police Department Leros
• Central Port Leros
On 08/12/2014
• General Hospital – Health Center Kos
• Health Center Antimahias
• Police Department Kos
• Central Port Cos
A circular issued by the Ministry of Labour for the protection of workers in Greece from the Ebola epidemic asks the Labour Inspectorate to inform employers and employees for the emergency response procedures demanded in all working places, as to avoid the spread of the Ebola virus.
The circular informs the Inspectors for Occupational Health and Safety that in cases of inspections of their competence conducted in areas where there might have appeared possible workers’ or personnel exposure to the Ebola virus, it is their duty to inform the employers on the employers’ obligation for the measures that should be taken for the Prevention and Protection of the workers’ health, and also to inform employees for the necessary precautions taken for their protection.
The high risk groups among workers on the risk of exposure to the Ebola virus are mainly workers in hospitals, especially doctors and nurses, the ambulance crews, workers at airports and seaports.
For each worker of the high risk groups, employer should take responsibility for the workers’ information of the errors and the Public Health Guidelines for taking the necessary preventive and protective measures, such as the provision of the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and the workers’ training for their safe and appropriate use.
“Despite the fact that Greece is characterised low risk for the introduction of Ebola virus, to the moment and based on the estimates of the Greek CDC, (KEELPNO), we consider it essential to inform employers and employees about the characteristics of the disease and the Prevention measures that should be taken.
Travelers visiting West Africa destinations are advised to get informed about the Ebola epidemic, in detail concerning the specific area the traveler is visiting.
Experts have said to the moment, that the risk to travelers is very low, reminding though, that there is no vaccine or medication for prophylaxis, nor does any effective treatment exist, so travelers are oblidged to protect themselves adequately.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a very rare but deadly viral infection with no carrier state of the incubation period. Once the virus infects the body, it requires 2 to 21 days of the disease to onset symptoms, which happens accutely and severely, most often fatally. Usually it starts by a sudden high fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, fatigue and abdominal pain. Symptoms also include skin rash, sore throat and conjunctivitis.
As soon as the fever appears, the patient becomes infectious
The virus is transmitted from person to person through the contact of blood of the patients, and of the tissues and body fluids of patients or deceased, who had contracted hemorrhagic fever Ebola.
Infection also may be transfered by contact or reuse of contaminated needles of the patients.
The virus can also be transmitted through the contact of live or dead infected animals (eg monkeys).
Although Ebola virus human-to-humnan transmission through air droplets has never been reported in health care facilities, the use of mask and eye protection of the healthcare personel is considered mandatory for any case of clinical examination or treatment of patient with vomiting or respiratory symptoms
Measures for Travelers
The traveler is recommended to be aware of the Ebola ways of transmission and take all personal protective measures.
Therefore, direct contact with body fluids of patients, and also with tools or objects that have been used by patients should definitely be avoided .
Furthermore Greek CDC( HCDCP) recommends travellers to West Africa destinations to avoid contact with animals.
If you experience symptoms during your trip or shortly after returning from an African country whith reported Ebola cases, you should seek immediate medical attention and primarily inform the doctor about the symptoms and the county you visited .
The screening for Ebola hemorrhagic fever in asymptomatic travelers returning from Africa destinations or immigrants is not appropriate.
Expert news and commentary on intelligence, espionage, spies and spying
The World Is My Classroom
έγκυρη, αμερόληπτη ενημέρωση
Beyond the Smoke & Mirrors
Healthcare Communication Blog / Blog de Comunicación en la Salud
Site 1 (unused)
moodhackerblog 