Guinea reinstitutes health screenings on borders due to Ebola cases

Guinea is reactivating health screenings on their borders following the confirmation of a new Ebola case in Sierra Leone.

The Ebola case was confirmed on Jan. 12, with a second case discovered eight days later. Guinea will also reinforce their surveillance in Forecariah Prefecture, the area of the border that is closest to the Sierra Leone outbreak.

Guinea’s National Emergency Operations Center and the Ministry of Health have requested that the International Organization of Migration (IOM) institute health screenings at the Pamelap checkpoint immediately. Pamelap is the only functioning checkpoint on Guinea's border since the country was declared free of Ebola.

The IOM has reinstituted its cross-border collaboration between Forecariah in Guinea and Kambia in Sierra Leone to provide information about Ebola cases, strategies that are being enforced on the borders and health screenings at key points along the border.

Guinea will rely on the help of volunteers to help with health screenings. By Jan. 27, they will have 122 volunteers trained, at which point they will be dispatched to key points of entry along Guinea’s border. Those who volunteer will have the full support of the Community Health Workers, who are currently being trained.