Zimbabwe is on an Ebola high alert after reports of the deadly virus being recorded in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Director of Disease Control and Epidemiology, Dr Portia Manangazira said efforts were underway to ensure people and goods in transit are screened at the country’s boarder post.
“We have put everyone on high alert because of the outbreak in DRC. We are, however, an Ebola free country but because of travel, we make sure we are on high alert as Zimbabweans are scattered all over the continent.”
In a memo to Forbes boarder post, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Doctor Patron Mafaune encouraged officers at the post to safeguard public health.
“…Ebola is a highly infectious and fatal viral disease which is easily spread through contact with blood and body secretions of the infected people and anilas. Because of the travel links, Zimbabwe is at risk of being affected.
“You are therefore urged to be alert as there is need for a combined effort at this point of entry in order to safeguard Public Health,” the memo read in part.
Since April 22, the Ministry of Health in the DRC reported 11 suspected Ebola cases in the Likati health zone, Bas Uele Province in the north, bordering the Central Africa Republic.
The National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa on May 11 confirmed one positive case among the five samples collected.
The first suspected case was of a 39-year-old male who presented onset symptoms on April 22 and died on arrival at a health facility.
In 2014, several people died due to the outbreak that affected Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea but since June last year, these countries were declared Ebola free. zifmnews.com
