National
SA health on high alert for signs of Ebola virus─── SABRINA DEAN 09:26 Thu, 31 Jul 2014
Sabrina Dean
Pretoria - The national health department is currently sensitizing outbreak response teams, as well as informing public and private stakeholders, following confirmation of an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea in West Africa.
Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the department is on high alert but added there is no need to panic as South Africa’s
surveillance activities are extremely effective. He says the department and the national Institute for Communicable Diseases have drafted an alert and case definition.
These have been distributed to the Environmental Health Directorate, including port health officials, all provinces, the Civil Aviation Authority and other stakeholders. This morning health spokesperson Joe Maila told OFM News that there is no need for panic. Port health officials know that they need to be aware of the EVD outbreak and they must have a high index of suspicion for travelers with symptoms.
He said health care workers will do the same for patients with a travel history to West Africa. Maila added the Department of
Health is closely monitoring the situation in West Africa and has taken the necessary steps to detect and treat cases if they arrive in the country.
Joe Maila:
