By NAMAKAU HANTEMBE –
THE Ebola virus has been reported in some of Zambia’s neighbouring countries amid fears from the citizens residing near these countries.
Ebola disease is a deadly virus primarily associated with outbreaks in West and Central Africa.
The virus is believed to be caused by wild animals (specifically fruit bats) coming into contact with humans.
The Ebola virus causes severe illness with bleeding and its outbreaks have 90 per cent fatality rate and there is no known vaccine or treatment yet but only symptoms are treated.
Its signs and symptoms are sudden onset of fever, lack of appetite, vomiting, weakness, headache, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, hiccups, skin rash, stomach pain, diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, red eyes as well as difficulty in breathing.
Ebola is an infectious disease caused by Ebola virus. It is not spread by air or water but it is contracted through contact with blood or any other body fluids such as sweat, saliva, urine and semen of an infected person or corpse.
Other modes of transmission of the virus include getting into contact with infected animals, contact with any object such as needles that have been contaminated with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, kissing an infected person as well as having sexual intercourse with an infected person.
The virus can be prevented by avoiding contact with blood or any other body fluids of an infected person or corpse, avoiding contact with an infected animal, avoiding contact with any object such as needles that have been contaminated with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, avoiding sexual intercourse with an infected person or a recovering person for seven weeks as well as avoiding kissing an infected person.
Other preventive measures include practising good hygiene such as washing hands regularly, avoiding hugs and unnecessary handshakes, avoiding overcrowded areas and making sure that water for drinking is boiled or chlorinated all the time.
With the reported Ebola cases in the neighboring countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Zambian government has not been sitting idle but it is doing everything possible by putting up precautionary measures at various ports of entry across the country to prevent possible outbreaks.
At Kazungula border post for instance, sensitisation is ongoing to the residents, maketeers, restaurant owners, border post workers and cross border traders. Health officers have been stationed to work closely with the people on transit in and out to make sure that they are screened for the Ebola virus.
Speaking at Kazungula border recently, senior environmental health technologist Angelina Mungole said it was important that people residing and working at border posts areas were sensitised on the Ebola virus, what it was and the mode of its transmission so that they knew how best to take care of themselves in case of an emergency.
“It is for this reason that as a department and of course in conjunction with other stakeholders in the district we have taken it upon ourselves to carry out this Ebola awareness and preparedness campaign because the disease itself is deadly.
“We as a health department have put all the necessary health equipments at the border for the health workers stationed here. As you can see they are geared to do their work,” Mrs  Mungole said.
She said that it was important that the entire district should be aware of the reported Ebola virus because people move and as a result, the district health office had engaged all the health centres in the district to spread the messages on Ebola to the rest of the community members through possible means such as fliers.
A Kazungula resident and business man Brighton Mwampole has thanked the Ministry of Health and other partners for creating awareness and preparedness at border posts regarding the Ebola virus.
Mr Mwampole who is Mandia ward councillor said the people at Kazungula border post have appreciated the sensitisation over Ebola because they had very little knowledge over the matter before.
“I am happy that my people now know and understand what Ebola is and how it comes about. That is a very important thing especially that we stay here at the border, Mwampole said.
Meanwhile, a Livingstone resident John Salimu said there are no good reasons why Zambia should panic for Ebola virus.
Mr Salimu charged that it is unfortunate that the panic has reached an extent of retarding international trade.
“In as much as it is necessary to put up precautionary measures across border posts country wide, there is no need to disrupt the growth of the economy by imposing unnecessary travel ban. After all, it is not a guarantee that Ebola virus can be transported by people on transit,” Salimu lamented.
Mr Salimu further said responsible institutions should instead continue sensitising people about Ebola, what it is and how it is contracted instead of giving out over confident statements besides the country has no capacity to contain the deadly virus should there be an outbreak.
The Government had since banned entry to all people coming from the West African nations where the Ebola virus has broken out.
This is one of a range of tough Government measures aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus to the country.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said recently that all Zambian citizens and residents intending to travel to the Ebola-hit countries should not do so until further notice.
“No holding of all international events that leads to mass gathering,” the Ministry of Health advised. The travel ban follows the most outbreak of Ebola in history killing over two thousand people in Guinea, Sierra Leon, Liberia and Nigeria.
And analysts have warned that the Ebola scare is threatening business in West Africa and could choke the export of minerals such as Iron ore and diamonds from the region as transport companies and airlines put in place travel restrictions.
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the Ebola epidemic an international public health emergency and urged donors to boost funding and efforts to contain the outbreak.