Zimbabwe has finally started preparing to screen people entering the southern African nation and ensure Ebola does not enter the country.
So far no Ebola cases have been reported or detected in Zimbabwe.
This action was long overdue as every other nation was putting into place steps to prevent Ebola from spreading into their countries.
It would have been embarassing and a catastrophe if Zimbabwe had been caught unprepared.
Kenya last week banned travellers from West Africa from entering the East African nation. Statistics so far confirm that around 1145 people from West Africa had died from Ebola.
Director of Epidemiology in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira confirmed the development on Wednesday.
“Yes we are setting up health ports at the border posts and I am on my way to Beitbridge where we are going to conduct a special training for health personnel so that they are able to monitor all those coming into the country through Beitbridge Border post tomorrow,” she said.
Plumtree border post has openned a booth for screening travellers who are required to pass through the booth before their passports are stamped.
A Liberian national was prevented from entering Botswana in a protective measure as everyone is now on the alert for the most deadlt disease which kills in a very short space of time.
“The Botswana officials have said that they will not be allowing any foreigners coming from affected countries into their country within a space of 30 days,” said the official.
“She was being screened at all the borders she went through but she was not allowed to proceed to Botswana.
“She left Liberia two weeks back and the Botswana immigration officials said they would not allow her in their country until a 30 day period had elapsed.
“Therefore such people have to proceed to an unaffected area and remain there for 30 days before proceeding to Botswana,” said the official.
Regional Immigration Officer in charge of Western Region, Regies Munyaradzi confirmed that a booth had been opened for health surveillance on travellers.
It is important to note that Ebola is spread through contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person.
Symptoms of the virus are visible or can be experienced two to three weeks after infection and they include high fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which may lead to decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys and eventually death.
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