Surveillance for Ebola is being expanded beyond the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) steps up measures to prevent the spread of the disease across the region.
According to government figures released on Tuesday, more than 7,700 Ebola cases and over 3,700 deaths have been reported in the DRC.
In response to the outbreak, the IOM is intensifying disease surveillance at displacement sites and along major travel routes, including the Congo River.
At the Bende-Bende port in Kinshasa, IOM health workers screen passengers by taking their temperatures and collecting health information through traveller health forms. The teams conduct an average of about 1,000 health screenings each day.
Dr. Primous Godjedo, an IOM health security specialist, said passengers who meet the criteria for suspected or alert cases are immediately referred for further testing.
“If a passenger meets the definition of a suspected or alert case, they are immediately referred to the sampling unit to determine whether it’s a case of Ebola, another epidemic disease, or cholera,” he said.
The IOM said it was also working closely with neighbouring countries to strengthen preparedness and minimise the risk of cross-border transmission.
The countries include Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and the Central African Republic.
The expanded surveillance comes as health authorities and humanitarian organisations intensify efforts to detect potential cases early, particularly along major population movement routes and in communities affected by displacement.
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