Ebola was much talked about in all the regions we visited, particularly South Africa which happens to have the largest hospital complex in Africa. It was therefore quite surprising that apparently no procedures had been put in place to deal with the Ebola virus should the infection permeate into South Africa.

What was equally disturbing was that South Africa has refused to take infected patients for treatment.

The Australian government appears as usual to take the “wait and see” approach, probably figuring that we are well away from the epidemic to have any real impact apart from political squabbling.

As I passed through Australian Immi-

gration, the Immigration Officer held my passport along with my Customs declaration form and asked which counties I had visited. After a moment’s pause I thought, hang on, you’re holding my passport, why are you asking me and why aren’t you checking?

I replied to the question and she glanced to what appeared to be a list on her desk, stamped my passport and off I went.

If Australian authorities are taking the Ebola epidemic at all seriously, then surely the “gatekeepers” at Border Protection have the responsibility to undertake a thorough check of all passports entering the country, especially from areas that are carrying the virus. 

The method by which we were checked could have easily culminated in one of us bringing the virus into the country undetected. I found the whole episode quite disturbing and alarming.

A. Kaszo,

Tomerong.