Pretoria – The Department of Health has, in an update of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, reported that there are still no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in South Africa or its neighbouring countries.
There have been 8997 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States up to the end of 12 October.
A total of 4493 people have died from EVD.
While the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is deteriorating with widespread and persistent transmission of EVD, the last confirmed cases in Senegal and Nigeria were reported on 29 August and 8 September respectively.
Both Spain and the United States continue to monitor potential contacts.
“The outbreak continues to accelerate. According to the World Health Organisation, half of the nearly 5 000 cases occurred in the last three weeks, and it is not unthinkable that 20 000 could become infected before the outbreak is over.
“However, most cases are concentrated in only a few localities,” said the department.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said in August the department would continue to give the South African public regular updates on the EVD outbreak in the West of Africa.
The travel advisory issued by Cabinet in August is still being strictly enforced.
South Africa took the decision to impose a total travel ban for all non-citizens traveling from identified high risk countries to limit the spread of Ebola to the country, unless the travel is considered absolutely essential.
The first-ever United Nations emergency health mission, the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) has been set up to stop the spread of the disease, treat infected patients, ensure essential services, preserve stability and prevent the spread to countries currently unaffected by EVD.
The Word Health Organisation (WHO) continues to be responsible for overall health strategy and advice within the Mission It has now moved its base of operations from Conakry, Guinea, to the UNMEER Mission headquarters in Accra, Ghana.
The department said the creation of UNMEER is a significant development in the international community’s response to the epidemic.
A comprehensive 90-day plan to control and reverse the epidemic of EVD in West Africa has been put into action.
WHO continues to monitor for reports of rumoured or suspected cases from countries around the world and systematic verification of these cases is ongoing. – SAnews.gov.za
