TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Governor of West Java, Ahmad Heryawan, has claimed that West Java is ready to face the possible spread of the deadly Ebola virus. "We have instructed West Java's Health Agency to be prepared," said the Governor in Bandung on Monday, November 2, 2014.

The Governor - who is also known as Aher - has called on the central government to observe the state of health of Indonesia's migrant worker who are currently working in areas where Ebola is endemic to, namely Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Aher also welcomed the central government's initiative to impose mandatory health checks on travellers - especially Indonesian workers - who had recently travelled to Ebola-stricken areas at airport across Indonesia.

Previously, two Indonesian migrant workers from Madiun and Kediri in East Java were suspected to have contracted the illness after returning from Liberia on October 26, 2014. A 29-year-old Ebola suspect known as 'M' is currently being isolated and treated at Dr Soedono General Hospital in Madiun, whereas GN - 46 years old - is being treated separately at the isolation ward at Pare General Hospital in Kediri.

Their blood samples have been flown to the Health Ministry's Research and Development Laboratory in Jakarta for further analysis.

Alma Lucyati, the Head of West Java's Health Agency, said that the Health Ministry has requested Health Agencies across Indonesia to be on high alert for the deadly hemorrhagic disease, which could be transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected patients. As such, Alma has designated seven hospitals that are equipped with isolation chambers in West Java as referral hospitals, and instructed community health centres across the province to be vigilant of suspected Ebola patients.

Alma continued that Bandung's Husein Sastranegara Airport have installed thermal scanning equipments at the gates of the airport since August 2014, to fish out unwell patients who might have contracted the deadly virus from among incoming travellers.

Meanwhile in East Java, the East Java Legislative Council (DPRD) have requested the East Java Government to be extra vigilant as to not allow potential carriers to slip through the cracks. "We advise airport authorities to perform checks and screenings on travellers - both tourists and migrant workers alike - especially on those who had just recently travelled to West Africa," said the Head of Commission E of East Java's DPRD, at the East Java's DPRD Complex in Surabaya on Monday.

In Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta's Health Agency have embarked on a socialisation program at community health centres across the province since last week, to increase public awareness of the deadly virus. "Our focus are migrant workers and tourists who had just recently came from regions where Ebola is endemic to," said the Head of Health and Disease Control at Yogyakarta's Health Agency, Citraningsih, on Monday.

Citra explained that two special units have been formed to help prevent the spread of Ebola into Yogyakarta. Apart from collecting information from the local Manpower Agency and Tourism Agency, District Surveillance Officers (DSOs) will be dispatched to community health centres across Yogyakarta's 14 districts to monitor the situation on the ground, said Citra.

AHMAD FIKRI| EDWIN FAJERIAL| PRIBADI WICAKSONO