Namibia boosts preparedness against Ebola
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Namibian
Namibia is strengthening health surveillance and border controls in response to the Ebola outbreak reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as cases in Kenya and Nigeria. As of 25 October, the DR Congo had 10,091 confirmed cases and 4,891 deaths, according to Namibia’s health ministry.
Namibia has raised its level of preparedness for Ebola following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirmed cases in Kenya and Nigeria. The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has strengthened surveillance and controls at entry points, while assessing the risk to the population as low, acting executive director Theo-Ben Kandetu said in a health update published on Tuesday and reported by The Namibian.
No suspected or confirmed cases have been reported in Namibia. However, the ministry says the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, had reached 10,091 confirmed cases and 4,891 deaths in the DR Congo by 25 October, a case fatality rate of about 48%. The outbreak, declared on 15 May, affects eight provinces, including Ituri, the worst-hit.
By 23 October, Kenya had confirmed nine cases, including two deaths, after a national of the DR Congo who had travelled through Uganda arrived in Nairobi. Nigeria reported its first case on 20 October in the Federal Capital Territory. In Namibia, the authorities are primarily seeking to detect any possible cases quickly at the borders.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved specific antiviral treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, according to the ministry. It points out that the initial symptoms, including fever, fatigue, muscle pain and digestive problems, can resemble those of common diseases such as malaria.
The Namibian measure comes as the DR Congo has passed the threshold of 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths, according to the Ebola outbreak figures in the DR Congo.
