Following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak as a public health emergency, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health has decided to implement five special precautionary measures in line with WHO recommendations.
In a statement issued today (20), Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that Ebola outbreaks are currently being reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Accordingly, the Health Ministry has decided to strengthen airport surveillance, prepare the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH) to treat suspected patients, ensure the Medical Research Institute is ready for testing and diagnosis, enhance the country’s disease surveillance system, and maintain close coordination with the World Health Organization through the Epidemiology Unit.
However, the statement further noted that Sri Lanka has been categorized as a low-risk country for Ebola according to WHO criteria, and the public should not panic unnecessarily as all required preventive measures have already been taken by the Health Ministry.
