Screening of at-risk passengers will begin at airports as part of increased efforts to prevent Ebola reaching New Zealand undetected, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The Ministry of Health website cautions:
“The risk of a traveller arriving in New Zealand with Ebola virus disease (EVD) remains very low.
“However, travellers arriving in New Zealand who in the last three weeks have visited West African countries affected by the Ebola viral disease outbreak will be screened for symptoms of the disease and where necessary receive a health assessment.”
The latest update from the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, as of August 6, the cumulative number of cases of Ebola cases in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria stands at 1779, including 961 deaths.
The SMC approached infectious disease experts for reaction to the announcement. Further comments will be posted as they are received.
Read the experts comments on the Science Media Centre science alert.