Pakistan Boosts Airport Screening After WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Emergency

Overview

• The World Health Organization has designated the Ebola situation in Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency, calling for heightened surveillance but not for travel bans.
• Pakistan’s health minister ordered stronger screening at airports and told provincial and border health services to remain on alert as a pre-emptive measure.
• Pakistani officials say the risk to the country is very low because no cases have been reported outside Africa and travel links with the affected countries are limited.
• The National Institute of Health in Islamabad says it has the laboratory capacity to diagnose Ebola and health authorities report continuous monitoring of the situation.
• The stepped-up screening could help detect and isolate any imported cases quickly and will be paired with international guidance and coordination to prevent local spread.