South Africa intensifies border screening amid Ebola outbreak in Central Africa

South Africa's Border Management Authority BMA has heightened screening and surveillance at its ports of entry to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the country. This action comes as an Ebola outbreak continues to spread in parts of Central Africa, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, where it has caused 61 deaths and 359 cases. BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi stated that port health officials are implementing necessary screening measures, including monitoring international arrivals, with a focus on flights from affected countries like the DRC and Uganda, to ensure compliance with international health regulations. These measures include temperature checks, interviews about travel history, and visual assessments of unwell passengers. Mogotsi also confirmed the BMA's participation in the multisectoral national outbreak response team, which coordinates with provincial health departments for any suspected cases. Health expert Dr. Angelique Coetzee advised South Africans to be concerned but not alarmed, noting that while the number of suspected cases has dropped, the World Health Organization is concerned about the late detection of the outbreak and ongoing conflict in affected areas. She emphasized that Ebola is different from Covid-19, requiring direct contact with bodily fluids, and that the risk to the average South African remains low, though vigilance is crucial.