LIFE AND STYLE
Mauritius Reactivates Ebola Emergency Plan Following WHO International Health Alert
Mauritius has reactivated its operational response plan against Ebola following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of an international health emergency.
Dr Fazil Khodabocus, the acting director of health services, announced the decision on Radio Plus on Monday, 18 May, confirming that the island nation is tightening its borders and medical surveillance in response to a surging outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Strict Border Control and Surveillance
In alignment with WHO recommendations, Mauritius has already established a comprehensive monitoring system for arrivals.
- 21-Day Monitoring: Passengers travelling from high-risk countries will be strictly monitored for 21 days, matching the virus’s incubation period.
- Medical Alerts: A formal case definition has been distributed to both public and private sector doctors across the island to heighten vigilance and ensure early detection.
- Local Testing: Health authorities confirmed that Victoria Hospital in Candos is fully equipped and possesses the necessary capacity to conduct Ebola laboratory tests.
A Uniquely Dangerous Variant
The operational shift comes amid grave concerns over the specific strain of the virus currently circulating in East Africa.
According to health officials, there is currently no approved vaccine and no authorized treatment available for this particular variant.
Ebola causes a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever. Over the last fifty years, the virus has claimed more than 15,000 lives across the African continent.
Rising Casualties at the Epicentre
The latest data underscores the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground:
| Outbreak Metrics (DRC) | Current Figures |
| Suspected Cases | Approximately 350 |
| Likely Fatalities | 91 deaths |
| Most Affected Age Group | 20 to 39 years old |
| Gender Demographic | Over 60% of cases are women |
The figures, released on Sunday by the Congolese Minister of Health, Samuel-Roger Kamba, rely heavily on suspected cases.
Due to local constraints, very few samples have successfully undergone laboratory testing at this stage.
Gold Mining Regional Hub Fueling the Spread
The epicentre of the current outbreak is located in Ituri, a northeastern province of the DRC that shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
Health officials note that Ituri is a prominent gold-mining region.
The intense population movements heavily driven by local mining activities are significantly accelerating the geographic spread of the virus.
Source: Defi Media