Ebola prevention and preparedness activities continued in South Sudan’s Equatoria region to prevent spread of the deadly virus in the country.

No cases of Ebola have been recorded in South Sudan as two outbreaks occur in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which borders Western and Central Equatoria.

The Central Equatoria government warned against visiting DRC, reported Catholic Radio Network, while the Yei wildlife authority issued a standing order forbidding the sale of dried meat, including that of baboons, pigs, and monkeys. Ebola can spread from contact with infected wild game.

According to a document obtained by Easter Radio, violators of the dried meat ban face fines of 100 South Sudanese Pounds and two years’ imprisonment.

The state has also launched a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the disease.

State surveillance officer Liona Kenyi Manoha told Moboro FM: “We thought this is the right time to disseminate information to our counties because you know Democratic Republic of Congo is just right here, so the best thing is to sensitize our community. So far there is no any single case of Ebola detected in Central Equatoria, but for sake of preparedness we’d like to situate that our communities must be aware.”

South Sudan authorities are screening people for Ebola who arrive at Juba International Airport and training health workers alongside social mobilization activities.

Ebola virus is known for causing hemorrhagic fever. The West African outbreak, the largest ever, has affected Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal, killing about half of patients. There is a smaller, separate outbreak in DRC.

The present-day Western Equatoria state experienced Ebola outbreaks in 1976, 1979, and 2004.

Photo: An image of an Ebola virus BBC/Science Photo Library

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