DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu on Friday said the east African nation was on the highest alert after reports of fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"People could be at risk of the deadly Ebola disease owing to interaction with those of neighbouring DRC," Mwalimu said in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
She added: "Tanzanians need to take the highest precaution in order to prevent contracting the disease."
According to her, the ministry had put the people on high alert, particularly those living in regions bordering the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda.
Regions on high alert were Mwanza, Kagera, Kigoma, Katavi, Rukwa and Songwe.
"Precautionary measures need to be taken at all border posts when interacting with passengers who get in and out of the country," she said.
The minister said there were currently no cases of Ebola in Tanzania since the discovery of a patient suffering from the disease in North-Western Kivu province in the DRC bordering with Uganda and Rwanda.
Last week, DRC's Ministry of Public Health announced the second outbreak of Ebola. A total of 44 cases have been reported so far, 17 of which have been confirmed.
Following the outbreak, the Congolese government launched an Ebola vaccination drive for high risk populations in North-Western Kivu province.
"Ebola is a constant threat in the DRC," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General.
"What adds to our confidence in the country's ability to respond is the transparency they have displayed once again. Working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners, we will fight this one as we did the last," said Adhanom.
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness, in humans. Its symptoms become increasingly severe and may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea (may be bloody), red eyes, raised rash, chest pain and cough, sore throat, stomach pain and severe weight loss.
WHO, including other international bodies and the government in the DRC, has been battling to contain the outbreak of the disease since the report of the first case in May.
WHO Emergency Committee had earlier in May advised the Congolese government and all other actors to remain engaged in a "vigorous response" and called on the international community to support efforts on the ground.
