JUBA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's government said it has stepped up vigilance along its borders following an outbreak of the Marburg virus in neighboring Ethiopia.
Minister of Health Sarah Cleto Rial said the government, together with the World Health Organization and other partners, has intensified surveillance, preparedness and response measures to prevent any importation and spread of the virus.
"The Ministry of Health reassures the public that no confirmed cases have been reported in South Sudan," Cleto said on Monday evening during a press conference in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
She urged citizens to remain calm and promptly report any suspected symptoms of the hemorrhagic disease to the nearest health facility.
This development came after the Ethiopian government declared a Marburg virus outbreak on Nov. 14 in the southern town of Jinka, near the border with South Sudan.
The South Sudanese government has reactivated the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) in the capital to strengthen surveillance, screening, risk assessment and identification of priority areas, while monitoring at national and state levels, Cleto said.
Mabior Kiir Kudior, chief of planning and information at the PHEOC, said a rapid response team has already been deployed to high-risk counties, such as Kapoeta East, Akobo, Pochala, and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
"We have made swift decisions, including developing a 72-hour response plan. We have also developed the travel advisory to assure the public and the travelers on the precaution measures to be taken for our safety," Kudior said.
