21-DAY EBOLA SURVEILLANCE

MBABANE – With fears of Ebola virus spreading to the Southern African region, the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 athletes and officials going to the host country Zimbabwe in December must be put under surveillance for 21 days before leaving their countries.

The host country’s the Chronicle has reported that the AUSC wants participating countries to be cooperative in as far measurers for Ebola are concerned by ordering that they have their athletes under surveillance before departure.

The Chronicle reported yesterday that the AUSC’s Secretary-General of the Regional Organising Committee of the Games, Mvuzo Mbebe, said the situation was under control and various associations had been advised on the action taken.

“We’ve advised associations to monitor their athletes and officials’ movements, especially in the last 21 days before they come to Zimbabwe,”Mbebe said last Friday soon after conducting the draw for the Games at one of the hotels.
Mbebe was asked on the Ebola issue which has raised fears it may gain access to Zimbabwe through the games as various countries though none of the three hit West African countries will be participating.

A total over 1 200 people are expected to be at Bulawayo for the Games which take place from December 4-14.
Team Swaziland’s Chef De Mission Zama Tsabedze referred questions to the Sports and Recreation Council’s Acting CEO Darius Dlomo.
“We haven’t got the instruction yet but if it comes, we believe it is good that they’re also concerned about the pandemic. We’ll definitely heed to it if it comes as it is meant for everyone’s good at the Games,” he said.

He said it was important that they also monitored the movements of the athletes and officials ahead of the Games which is part of what Mbebe is reported to have said.

Director of Health Services Vusi Magagula said: “We can only deal with the issue after a request to have the athletes and officials quarantined but I don’t think they would need it as we only do so if we see certain symptoms,” he said.

He said they could not just go out to quarantine the athletes and officials on the basis of the instruction unless there was a suspected case but for now the country was clear, as well as Zimbabwe.
Nonetheless, he said they would deal with it when it reaches their office.

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