Colombia on Monday announced extra measures to prevent the possible spreading of the deadly Ebola virus to the Latin American country.
Protocols of how to detect and protect one against Ebola has been distributed among border and airport officials. The protocol contains an ABC of the virus, how to detect cases of legal and undocumented travelers and which self-protection measures to take, such as the use of surgical gloves.
The Ministry of Health stressed that the new measures are not to deny entry from African countries, but simply a precautionary step restricted to persons who have been in contact with family members or friends who are infected.
According to newspaper El Tiempo, a total of 1046 migrants have traveled between Africa and in Colombia in the last two years. 934 are from Nigeria, 43 from Guinea, 40 from Liberia and 29 from Sierra Leone. All four countries are located in West Africa were the virus is currently sweeping through.
There is currently no cure for the virus and mortality rate is expected to exceed 90%.
Sources
- Así se blinda el país contra el virus ébola (El Tiempo)
- What You Need to Know About the Ebola Outbreak (New York Times)
- Paciente cero del brote de virus ébola podría ser un niño de dos años (La Tercera)