Ebola is a viral disease transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or an infected dead body. It can also be transmitted when handling dead animals.
The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms.
Symptoms of EVD can be sudden and include:
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. The viruses that cause EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola virus.
When traveling back into Rwanda with a fever, please seek immediate medical attention or call the toll-free number 114
Rwanda launched officially launched the Ebola vaccination program -UMURINZI- Unprecedented Movement to drive a Unified Rwandan Initiative for National EBOLA Immunization, as one of Rwanda's efforts to protect its population against the Ebola Virus Disease. During this voluntary vaccination campaign, about 200,000 Ebola Vaccine regimens will be given to people who will provide informed consent for the vaccine. The Ebola vaccine started with Rubavu and Rusizi Districts. The injection is given to all those who voluntarily accept to be the beneficiaries of the preventive vaccine aged two years and above in two injections.
The Ministry of health in partnership with WHO and other partners made a great step to strengthen national capacity for early detection and containment in the event a case spreads to Rwanda. The country is equipped with an Emergency Treatment Centre built in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu district, to screen and treat Ebola in case of an outbreak. Exercises took place in different health facilities in 13 districts. Screening is being performed on all borders and airports. Rwanda has trained over 23657 people including Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, Police, Red Cross Volunteers and Community Health Workers.
Public awareness and community mobilization are still ongoing on Ebola Symptoms, prevention measures and steps to follow if Ebola case is suspected through community meetings, outreach events and media. Billboards and posters with information on Ebola are hung at border areas, in hotels, schools, hospitals, health centres, and other public places in high risk zones.