Pakistan has intensified health screening and surveillance measures at airports nationwide following the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in parts of Africa, the health ministry said on Saturday.
According to an official statement, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal directed authorities to implement precautionary screening protocols at all airports to prevent any possible spread of the virus into the country.
The ministry stated that the current outbreak remains confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, adding that the risk to Pakistan remains very low due to limited travel connections with the affected regions.
Officials said the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Pakistan, is continuously monitoring the evolving situation.
The health ministry has instructed provincial authorities and Border Health Services to remain on high alert and ensure all preparedness measures are fully operational. It also emphasized that Pakistan has the capability to diagnose Ebola cases and that testing kits would be distributed to reference laboratories across the country.
Speaking to Dawn, NIH Centre for Disease Control chief Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan confirmed that facilities for Ebola testing are available at NIH as well as at multiple laboratories nationwide.
He added that ships arriving from African countries at Pakistani ports were also undergoing health screening, while medical staff and healthcare workers were being trained to manage any suspected Ebola cases.
The ministry noted that no Ebola case has ever been reported in Pakistan or neighboring countries. Travelers heading to African nations have been advised to carefully review health and travel advisories before departure.
Ebola is a highly dangerous viral disease transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and can lead to severe bleeding, organ failure, and death. Health officials said there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments available for the Bundibugyo strain linked to the present outbreak.