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Dr Portia Manangazira

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care is on high alert following the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.)

Responding to questions from The Chronicle, the Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Health and Child Care Ministry, Dr Portia Manangazira, assured the public that Zimbabweans were safe as reports from the DRC showed that the outbreak was concentrated near the Rwanda and Ugandan borders, which are conflict areas and therefore unlikely destinations for Zimbabwean travellers.

As at August 6, 20 people were reported to have died while 26 were showing signs and symptoms of Ebola in the DRC.

Dr Manangazira said the country had done necessary preparations for any possible disease outbreaks.

“As a country we have maintained high alert since the declaration of the early July (Ebola) outbreak in Equateur province in the western part of the DRC.

With yet another declaration and two press releases by the DRC Government on 30 July and again on 1 August, we have redoubled our alertness levels,” she said.

“We have planned to convene our national task force for epidemic prone diseases soon after the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays in order that all colleagues from the provinces, districts and cities are appraised of the situation and the permanent secretary is appraised of the state of preparedness at all levels.”

Dr Manangazira advised the public to report any suspicious cases of diseases to relevant authorities and to seek medical attention.

She discouraged people from spreading false messages on social media.

“We appreciate that some Zimbabwean nationals are working in the DRC and may travel back home while incubating infection and in the past our surveillance system has ably informed us for follow ups,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said cross border movements played a role in spreading diseases and urged the travelling public to exercise high levels of hygiene at all times.

“You will appreciate the role that cross border movements may play in spreading diseases, but due to trade and other arrangements our job is to control diseases and not to stop transport and trade business,” said Dr Manangazira .

“In the 2013 Ebola outbreak in the DRC, we had sensitised and equipped our major ports of entry and exit into the country including Chirundu, and with the fresh outbreak we need to strengthen that alertness and readiness for Ebola detection at these points, and also at our selected infectious diseases hospitals.”