This Monday, June 1, the Ministry for Health reported that, up to date, have not been reported any confirmed cases of Ebola in any country in the Americas, following the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern issued last May by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Through a communiqué, the institution recalled that last May 17, the WHO declared an International Emergency due to outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in the African continent, specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda:
«As of May 31, have been reported 291 confirmed cases and 43 deaths. Through various media outlets have been reported suspected cases in the United States and Brazil; however, up to date no officially confirmed cases have been reported in any country in the Americas,» emphasizes the statement.
Similarly, the Ministry reiterated that the initial symptoms of the disease are fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat, which can progress into vomiting and diarrhea, as well as organ damage and hemorrhaging: «These symptoms appear 3 to 21 days after initial contact with infected individuals or their bodily fluids,» emphasizes the document.
In this regard, it was reported that the National Government, through the Ministries for Health, Transportation, and Foreign Affairs, will remain on alert regarding this situation, and has therefore activated surveillance and risk notification systems.
They also reiterated that the Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with blood, vomit, feces, urine, and other bodily fluids of people who are sick or have died from the disease, or with objects contaminated with these fluids; it can also be transmitted by handling infected animals. It is not airborne.