Somalia Issues Warning on Deadly Disease Outbreak in East Africa

Somalia Issues Warning on Deadly Disease Outbreak in East Africa

The Ministry of Health of Somalia has stated that a high level of readiness has been implemented for health workers operating at the country's entry points and borders, to pay special attention to the Ebola virus outbreak that has emerged in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo located in East Africa.

The ministry indicated that it has been closely monitoring reports related to the outbreak since the WHO announced the existence of the Ebola virus in Congo.

Dr. Hussein Abukar, the Director General of the National Health Institute responsible for all health research in the country and responding to emergency disease outbreaks, informed the BBC about the vigilance they are maintaining.

He stated that they have already begun measures to warn the public about the dangers of the disease, adding that this type of Ebola virus that has recently emerged has no known treatment or vaccine.

"This type spreads through contact, blood, and bodily fluids of infected individuals, but it is not an airborne disease that spreads easily," said Dr. Hussein Abukar.

He mentioned several sequential measures the government will take, but noted that the initial health warning has already been activated. "Investigations have been prepared in case there are suspected cases arriving, which the national laboratory has been prepared for."

He added that the government has prepared facilities to hold any cases that are identified.

This comes as the movement of people between East African countries has significantly increased in recent years. Direct flights from Uganda operate four times a week, bringing hundreds of people into the country, "this is the area we are most concerned about," said Dr. Hussein.

He also noted that hundreds of people arrive daily from Kenya, which shares a border with Uganda, raising further concerns.

It is worth mentioning that there are thousands of soldiers from Uganda serving in the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the Ebola virus has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, describing it as "an urgent public health situation of international concern" after at least 80 reported deaths.