EpiShuttle launched to fight monkeypox

Shortly after 11pm Saturday, May 21st, the Hellenic Air Force’s C-130 Hercules landed at Kefalonia airport to pick up two British tourists diagnosed with symptoms reminiscent of monkeypox.

- EKAB is quick and efficient in dispatching their EpiShuttles. They demonstrate a very high level of preparedness and advance at the forefront of prehospital service with new technology. On a day-to-day basis the EpiShuttle is used to transport patients with suspicion of covid, ebola, measles, tuberculosis, and now also monkeypox, across the globe. The EpiShuttle can isolate any contagious patient, regardless of disease, and efficiently protect the staff and society at large. It is what you need to prepare for diseases even yet to be discovered, Ellen Cathrine Andersen said. Andersen is the CEO of EpiGuard, the Norwegian company behind the isolation and transport system.

Not all hospitals are equipped to handle such contagious diseases, therefore intra hospital transfer is crucial. Also, when handling any epidemic outbreak, intra hospital transfer is prominent to handle a surge of patients in an area with limited intensive care capacity.

- During an outbreak, patients need transport from outbreak hotspots to where ICU capacity is available. Strengthening patient transport is crucial to ensure fast treatment for both infectious victims and other patients. Only when safe transport is in place can we utilize the full capacity of the entire health care system and ensure treatment for everyone, Andersen said.

In general, EpiShuttle will provide protection from all Bio-hazards, bacteria and viruses. The standard A2P3 filter will in addition to particles also filter organic gases and vapors with a boiling point above 65°C. This covers most of the warfare agents. If a CBRN filter is selected, also inorganic gases, ammonia and organic amines, and mercury compounds are covered

- The EpiShuttle is completely airtight, and as a second barrier it has negative pressure with P3-filtration to prevent any contaminated air from escaping the isolator. The EpiShuttle keeps the staff safe. Also, once the patient is loaded, medical staff do not have to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during transport of highly infectious patients. This allows for longer shifts and reduces the risk of mistakes due to fatigue or reduced situational awareness, Andersen explains.

The EpiShuttle is NATO stock listed and CE-marked as a class one medical device. EpiShuttles are used by WHO as well as first responders in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Peru, Ireland, Greece, Norway, and the UK. Also, national air forces like the British, Australian, Canadian, Danish, Norwegian and others are equipped with EpiShuttles. In the private sector, EpiShuttles are a common sight amongst companies like FAI air ambulance, Air Alliance Medflight, DRF Luftrettung, Keewatin Air, Luxembourg Air Rescue, Loganair and others.