Zimbabwe at high risk of Ebola outbreak

Zimbabwe is prone to an Ebola outbreak despite precautionary measures authorities have taken, as scores of foreigners and locals move freely in and out of the country through 51 illegal crossing points.

Also, there have been reports of aircraft stealthily entering and exiting Zimbabwean airspace, with foreigners largely suspected to be pushing clandestine activities, including mineral externalisation and poaching. Government has responded to the Ebola threat by establishing a special inter-ministerial committee and screening units at international airports and official border posts.

Travellers from affected countries - mainly in West Africa, though cases have been recorded closer to home in the DRC - will be quarantined for 21 days.

These strategies only target official ports of entry and exit, meaning infected individuals can easily enter the country undetected via illegal crossing points.

A recent parliamentary report on peace and security shows that Zimbabwe has 51 "informal border posts" against 18 formal ones. In addition, the number of airstrips on farms and private properties far exceed international airports.

The report identifies travellers without proper documentation, smugglers and cattle rustlers among chief culprits using illegal crossing points.

With Ebola being highly contagious, there are fears the viral disease could eventually find its way into the country.

The disease has killed more than 1 000 people in West Africa in recent weeks, with Sierra Leone and Liberia being the worst affected.

A different strain has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo where 13 of 24 suspected cases have resulted in fatalities. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said his ministry was working with Home Affairs to deal with the threat of porous borders.

Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, in turn, said measures were in place to ensure unauthorised individuals do not enter the country, though he conceded that dealing with illegal crossing points presented a major challenge.

He nonetheless reassured the nation that the situation was under control. "We are on the ground to monitor and make sure that people don't sneak in and out of the country," he said.

"However, due to the fact that there are illegal crossing points, we have a challenge in that area, but we have our teams patrolling all areas where such illegal crossings occur. There is no need to panic because we believe we are firmly on the ground."

On Zimbabwean prison, military and police officers on peace-keeping missions in Ebola-hit countries such as Liberia, Minister Mohadi said the troops were in safe areas.

He said there was daily communication between Harare and Liberia and the troops would be withdrawn in the event of an emergency.

Ebola symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and may appear within 10 days of exposure.

There is no known cure for the disease, although early treatment can save lives.