Ebola Raises Its ‘Ugly’ Head Again

One of the worst outbreak in history ―Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has surfaced again as the Democratic Republic of the Congo two days ago confirmed the presence of the disease in Bikoro in Equateur Province.

It is in the light of this that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an Ebola alert asking the general public to be wary of their health and revive all known preventive measures to avert any possible outbreak in Ghana.

In a release signed by the Director General of the GHS, Dr Antony Nsiah Asare, the country is putting in place all possible measures to ensure that Ghana is not caught in in the web of this fearful disease.

According to him, enhanced surveillance on EVD and other Acute Viral Haemorrhagic Fever has begun.

Dr Nsiah Asare said, “We are also on a high alert; the ports, border officers as well as all the districts have been alerted to look out for the signs and symptoms of the virus.”

The GHS further revealed that it had initiated mechanism to update preparedness and response plans at all levels for EVD.

According to them, alert on the outbreak has been sent to all Regional Directors of the Health Service, Chief Executives of Teaching Hospitals and all other relevant agencies and institutions.

Meanwhile, Nigeria amongst other African countries have already stepped up screening processes at entry points including major international airports in the country to ensure no outbreak is recorded.

So far, 17 deaths have been recorded in the DRC since Tuesday.

Bitter History

In 2014, over 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone Liberia, Nigeria, the US and Mali.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]