The Government of Sierra Leone on Sunday activated its Health Emergency Response System to level two (Enhanced Surveillance, Active Case Finding and robust Community Engagement) following seven confirmed Ebola cases with three deaths in neighboring Guinea.
The country’s Health Ministry said in a statement that it has all the structures in place that were established during the 2014/15 Ebola response.
“We will build on our expertise and experience to mount a solid response that not only prevents the introduction of Ebola into the country but should the virus be introduced has a strong system that protects the lives of all Sierra Leoneans and interrupts the transmission of the virus,” the statement said.
With the border with Guinea currently closed, health authorities and local stakeholders in the districts bordering Guinea have been supported to heighten Ebola surveillance, and improve community awareness including appropriate preparedness measures, the statement added.
The Ministry of Health said the National Rapid Response Teams are being dispatched to provide additional support to the District Health Management Teams. “We intend to work very closely with our Guinean counterparts to quickly contain the situation.”
The World Health Organization pledged to offer help regarding the epidemic.
EVD is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is suspected to be transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. It can be transmitted through human contact with body fluids of a person infected with the virus.
Major symptoms of the disease can include some of the following: fever, sometimes unexplained bleeding tendencies from nose, gums, vagina, skin or eyes, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation wishes to encourage the general public to be vigilant and report all suspected cases and deaths through the 117 toll-free hotline, or to their local authorities.
The Government of Sierra Leone intends to collaborate very closely with its entire local, regional, and international partners especially partners of the Mano River Union.
| Sierra Leone first saw an Ebola outbreak in 2014, which killed more than 3,000 residents. | |
By Alusine Sesay
16/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 8003