As the suspected death toll of Ebola cases in Guinea and Liberia rises to 111, Senegal vowed on Tuesday that it is prepared for any spread of the deadly virus.
Government officials gave the verdict after testing defences against the killer tropical bug behind what the World Health Organisation described as one of the "most challenging" ever to strike since the disease emerged four decades ago.
WHO Says West Africa Ebola Outbreak Among 'Most Chilling' Ever
West Africa's Ebola outbreak, suspected to have killed 111 as of now, is among the most chilling ever to strike since the disease emerged four decades ago, said WHO on Tuesday.
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"We have everything in place to take measures against Ebola. We have a well-oiled system, which we are perfecting daily," Health Minister Eva Marie Coll Seck told reporters after a visit to the port and airport in the capital, Dakar.
Seck said Senegal, a neighbour of Guinea -- where 101 people have died from haemorrhagic fever, of which 67 have been confirmed as Ebola victims -- had increased surveillance of people coming into the country since the outbreak was made public.
![Ebola Epidemic a Cause of Concern for Experts]( "Ebola Epidemic a Cause of Concern for Experts")
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa which has claimed more than 90 lives and may now also have struck north into the Sahel, is a cause of deep worry for virologists.
Authorities have also been holding regular coordination meetings, deploying specialist health teams, boarding vessels from countries affected by the epidemic and setting aside isolation areas for any suspected cases, the minister added.
Tourism has grown to be an important part of the Senegalese economy, with arrivals passing one million in 2011, according to the World Bank.
No confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola fever have been reported in Senegal.
Still, Dakar must "take the necessary measures to protect its people and the world", said Seck.
Senegal closed its borders with Guinea on March 30 and shut down markets to prevent the spread of the virus, which has had a fatality rate in the past of up to 90 percent and for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.
Guinea's neighbours have all mobilised against the spread of Ebola since cases -- confirmed, probable or suspected -- have been announced in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali.
The WHO said Tuesday there have been 21 cases reported in Liberia, including 10 fatalities, of which five have been confirmed as Ebola.
Source: AFP
Ebola Epidemic a Cause of Concern for Experts
The Ebola epidemic in West Africa which has claimed more than 90 lives and may now also have struck north into the Sahel, is a cause of deep worry for virologists.
Advertisement
Authorities have also been holding regular coordination meetings, deploying specialist health teams, boarding vessels from countries affected by the epidemic and setting aside isolation areas for any suspected cases, the minister added.
Tourism has grown to be an important part of the Senegalese economy, with arrivals passing one million in 2011, according to the World Bank.
No confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola fever have been reported in Senegal.
Still, Dakar must "take the necessary measures to protect its people and the world", said Seck.
Senegal closed its borders with Guinea on March 30 and shut down markets to prevent the spread of the virus, which has had a fatality rate in the past of up to 90 percent and for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.
Guinea's neighbours have all mobilised against the spread of Ebola since cases -- confirmed, probable or suspected -- have been announced in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali.
The WHO said Tuesday there have been 21 cases reported in Liberia, including 10 fatalities, of which five have been confirmed as Ebola.
Source: AFP
France plane quarantined over ebola scare
Suspecting a passenger having a deadly Ebola by the crew, an Air France plane from Guinea was quarantined for two hours in Paris on Friday.
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Ebola Outbreak in Liberia Not Connected to GuineaThe epidemic Ebola raging in Guinea is apparently not connected to the suspected case in Liberia while dealing the first case and has been originated separately as declared on Thursday. | Advertisement
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