Somalia steps up Ebola prevention measures amid regional outbreaks

The Somali federal government has announced new measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola following outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Authorities are focusing on early detection efforts, public awareness campaigns, and closer coordination with regional health professionals to strengthen preparedness against the virus, Somali National News Agency reports. 

“Our borders are open, and people are constantly moving between countries in the region. Therefore, we must raise public awareness,” State Minister of Health Mariam Mohamed Hussein said.

Officials said Martini Hospital in the capital, Mogadishu, has been designated to examine suspected Ebola cases.

Somali authorities said no Ebola infections have been detected in the country so far. However, they warned that even a single confirmed case could quickly develop into a public health emergency because of the virus’s highly contagious nature.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.

By Sabina Mammadli