Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that South Africa currently has no cases of Ebola. At a press conference held on Thursday 21 August the minister announced a travel ban for non-South Africans coming in from Ebola infected countries in West Africa.
How Will The Ban Work?
The total ban is for all non-citizens travelling from the high risk countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Only essential travel is permitted and South African citizens travelling from the West African countries will be subjected to a strict screening process, and a possible medical examination.
No Ebola In SA
A South African man working in Liberia was tested for Ebola on his return from Monrovia over the weekend, but Minister Motsoaledi reiterated that the man – who developed a fever after arriving in Johannesburg from Monrovia – has undergone three separate tests with all results showing negative for Ebola.
Another Border Shut
One case has been reported in Senegal since it closed the border it shares with Guinea in order to ward off the deadly Ebola virus. There have been cases reported in Nigeria, and several people have tested positive in a separate outbreak in the DRC.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there have been 7470 documented cases and the current death toll is at least 3431, with the majority of deaths occurring in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Sources: SABC.co.za, mysinchew.com
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