South Sudan tries to prepare for Ebola after case near border

With the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo now declared an international emergency, neighbouring South Sudan and its war-weakened health system is a major concern, especially after one case was confirmed near its border.

Health experts say there is an urgent need to increase prevention efforts.

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday made the emergency declaration for the year-old outbreak, a rare move that usually leads to more global attention and aid. More than 1,600 people have died in what has become the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history.

Health experts worry about what would happen if Ebola reaches South Sudan as the shattered nation tries to recover from a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions.

Many health centres were damaged or destroyed, and unrest continues in parts of the country despite a peace deal signed in September.

Last month a woman, 41, was discovered with Ebola in north-eastern DRC, just 70 kilometres from South Sudan. She had travelled 500 kilometres from Beni, the epicentre of the outbreak, despite having been exposed to the virus and warned not to travel.

South Sudan has sent a health team to strengthen surveillance at one of its busiest border posts, Kaya in Central Equatoria state, near where the woman’s case was confirmed. Her case was the closest confirmed to South Sudan since this outbreak began.

“The risk of cases of Ebola coming across the border into South Sudan is very high,” said Sudhir Bunga, South Sudan country director for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“A person who comes into contact with a confirmed case of Ebola in [Congo] could travel to South Sudan, or any neighbouring country, undetected during the 21-day incubation period and spread the disease once contagious.”

Even though Ebola preparedness, including vaccinations for some health workers, began several months ago, the current phase of the country’s $12 million response plan is just 36 per cent funded, a report this month by the country’s health ministry said.

Fighting in areas such as Central Equatoria has hampered efforts to prepare for the disease.

The United Nations’ migration agency manages 15 screening sites along the border, but three others have not been established, in part because of access challenges.

Many South Sudan communities lack the basic resources to respond to one of the world’s most notorious diseases. The phone network in Central Equatoria is limited and many hospitals don’t have staff trained to deal with Ebola.

The country is about 60 per cent ready to deal with a potential Ebola outbreak, Richard Lako with South Sudan’s national Ebola task force said.

But he expressed concern about the border: “There are forest areas between communities in South Sudan and the Congo and these people can’t be screened from the other side.

“It’s a big worry if those people sneak in and we have a case. It’ll take us time to get in and control the issue.”

South Sudan has sent a health team to strengthen surveillance at a border post in Kaya