Rwanda Strengthens Ebola surveillance at its Borders

Following the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and the neighboring DR Congo, the Ministry of Health of Rwanda has strengthened Ebola surveillance at its borders as all visitors crossing borders should be subjected to an Ebola test before granting them acceptance to enter Rwanda. This has been put in places as a preventive measure and there should be no cause for panic among the tourists and public.

In a detailed statement from the Ministry of Health, prospective travelers should not panic given that various preventive measures were already in place to contain the disease, including strengthening surveillance at all points of entry into the country, including border posts and airports. “Referral hospitals, district hospitals and other health facilities are also well equipped and staff have been trained to handle any case of suspense.

“The Ministry of Health in collaboration other concerned institutions through the national emergency preparedness teams has put in place actions for preparedness and elaborated plans to prevent any potential health risks of Ebola.” With all the preventive measures in place “set according to the national standards,” the Ministry calls on the public to stay calm.

Over the weekend, the DR Congo government confirmed that an outbreak of what seemed a different strain to West Africa’s haemorrhagic fever in the north of the country has been identified as Ebola. The BBC reports that tests on two people had confirmed the disease in Equateur province, where 13 had already died. A 100-square kilometer radius in Boende, a town lying on the Tshuapa River, east of Mbandaka in Equateur province, where the cases had been registered was reportedly being set up to contain the disease.

The cases in the DR Congo are the first reported outside West Africa since the outbreak there began.
Ebola, one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with up to 90 percent of cases resulting in death, is spread between humans through direct contact with infected bloodily fluids.