Gambia's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said Thursday that it is on high alert for a possible Ebola outbreak in the country and are taking preventive measures to tackle the disease.

According to Modou Njai, director of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry, so far, there has been no confirmed case of the Ebola virus disease in Gambia.

"Currently there are public health officials stationed at all the border entry points, including at the airport and seaport and we are also increasing our surveillance teams countrywide to ensure that those going in and out are properly checked for Ebola virus," Njai noted.

According to Njia, 210 technical advisory committee members, 350 Red Cross volunteers, 75 local government authorities, 75 cluster monitors, 25 health journalists have been sensitized, including 36 representatives of youth groups who has been sent to various settlements in the country to sensitize people about the disease.

The preventive measures taken by the Gambia's public health officials include reading passengers' temperature and asking about their travel history, Njai said. The public health officials are also in touch with regional health management teams posted in the various regions, he added.

Gambia's regional management teams coordinate and supervise surveillance teams posted to various locations in the country. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)