News / National
Ebola alert
19 Aug 2014 at 07:35hrs | Views
Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru has issued a warning on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa urging people to be alert as there is a possibility it could spread to Zimbabwe.
There are no reported cases of Ebola in Southern Africa so far, but the region is on alert with Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa advising Zimbabweans against travelling to worst affected countries.
MSU, one of the largest tertiary institutions in the country, has posted an Ebola alert on its website.
"The World Health Organisation has declared Ebola a global health emergency," part of the notice reads.
"Over 930 deaths have been reported in West Africa in countries like Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
"It is highly possible that the outbreak may spread to Southern African countries including Zimbabwe."
Ebola has killed over 1 145 in West Africa with most countries now closing their borders to travellers from countries with high cases of the disease.
A Zimbabwean was tested in Kenya last week after exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms, but was found to be safe from the disease.
The patient was reportedly travelling from South Africa to Sierra Leone.
Some Zimbabweans have expressed fears the government could fail to contain any outbreak as evidenced by its failure to deal with water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
There are no reported cases of Ebola in Southern Africa so far, but the region is on alert with Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa advising Zimbabweans against travelling to worst affected countries.
MSU, one of the largest tertiary institutions in the country, has posted an Ebola alert on its website.
"The World Health Organisation has declared Ebola a global health emergency," part of the notice reads.
"Over 930 deaths have been reported in West Africa in countries like Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
"It is highly possible that the outbreak may spread to Southern African countries including Zimbabwe."
Ebola has killed over 1 145 in West Africa with most countries now closing their borders to travellers from countries with high cases of the disease.
A Zimbabwean was tested in Kenya last week after exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms, but was found to be safe from the disease.
The patient was reportedly travelling from South Africa to Sierra Leone.
Some Zimbabweans have expressed fears the government could fail to contain any outbreak as evidenced by its failure to deal with water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Source - Southern Eye
