Zambia rules out two suspected cases of Ebola and reinforces surveillance

Thermometers are seen at the entrance to an Ebola treatment center in the eastern Congo city of Butembo.
REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Zambia has investigated and ruled out two suspected cases of Ebola as it strengthens screening and surveillance for the deadly viral disease following an outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Congolese authorities said on Friday (29) that suspected cases of rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola - for which there is no vaccine - rose to 1,028.
Cases have also been recorded in Uganda. Zambia's Ministry of Health said late on Friday that there is a high risk of Ebola crossing the border, but that the two suspected cases were ruled out after laboratory tests.
"Zambia has developed screening tools and protocols, which are already being used to detect Ebola at points of entry into the country and in people within Zambian territory who show symptoms similar to those of the disease," the ministry added in a statement.
The Bundibugyo strain, named after from a province of Uganda where it was first identified almost 20 years ago, has worried experts because it remained undetected for a long time while it spread through a densely populated area, making it difficult to trace and isolate contacts of infected people.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola viruses initially cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, which can appear suddenly.
Next, vomiting and diarrhea may occur and, subsequently, internal and external bleeding, in addition to multiple organ failure.

Source: G1