rki.news | Sources: Xinhua
Rwanda has strengthened preventive, surveillance and treatment measures to respond to any potential Ebola outbreak while safeguarding public health and maintaining economic activity, a senior official said.
Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said in Kigali the government is confident in protecting citizens without disrupting socioeconomic activities. He urged vigilance, hygiene and prompt reporting of suspected cases.
Health Minister Sabin Nsengiyumva said preparedness has been reinforced across five areas: communication, surveillance, diagnostics, contact tracing and case management through treatment centres.
He said no Ebola cases have been reported, but response teams are active nationwide as authorities monitor outbreaks in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Nsengiyumva added that Rwanda’s laboratory network can detect Ebola strains, while treatment centres have trained staff conducting simulations on infection prevention, patient handling and outbreak response.
In May, Rwanda introduced mandatory quarantine for residents arriving from the DRC and restricted entry for foreign travellers who recently visited or transited through the country.
The quarantine applies to Rwandan nationals and foreign residents with proof of residency who travelled to or through the DRC within 30 days, while foreign nationals with such travel history are denied entry.
Since May 15, the DRC has reported 452 confirmed cases, including 82 deaths, according to health ministry data.
Rwanda said it continues cross-border monitoring and coordination with regional health authorities to reduce transmission risk and maintain rapid response readiness.