Home / Health / Ghana Prepares for Ebola: Airport Screening Intensified
Ghana Prepares for Ebola: Airport Screening Intensified
30 Oct
Summary
- Ghana is enhancing airport checks and screening as a precautionary measure.
- Thermal scanners and electronic declaration forms are implemented for passenger assessment.
- The country has improved laboratory and isolation facilities to manage potential cases.
Ghanaian health authorities are proactively strengthening airport surveillance and screening protocols in anticipation of any possible Ebola importation. This heightened preparedness follows Nigeria's confirmation of its first Ebola case since the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The measures include the installation of thermal scanners at Ghana's international airport to screen passengers upon arrival.
Further enhancing these efforts, electronic declaration forms have been deployed at the Accra international airport. These forms assist in assessing the health condition of visitors and aid in rapid contact tracing if a suspected or confirmed case emerges. Ghana has also improved its laboratory capacity with facilities like the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research and established infectious disease treatment centers for isolation and patient management.
Beyond airport measures, Ghanaian health officials are educating the public about preventing transmission from wild animals, warning against contact with sick or deceased animals, and advising prompt reporting of any unusual animal deaths. Citizens are also reminded of standard hygiene practices, including regular hand washing and avoiding contact with body fluids.
Neighboring countries, including Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon, are also intensifying their own surveillance and precautionary measures in response to regional Ebola concerns, reflecting a broader continental effort to contain potential outbreaks.
