Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 21
By Ilhame Isabalayeva - Trend:
Azerbaijan has tightened the sanitary and quarantine control at its border crossing points due to the Ebola outbreak, the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Azerbaijan told Trend Oct. 21.
The SCC said special seminars were held for the border-crossing points' employees with regard to the Ebola outbreak in a number of countries.
The committee noted that Azerbaijan's border-crossing points have taken preventive measures, carried out the disinfection of area, and the persons passing through border checkpoints undergo medical examinations, and are asked certain questions.
The SCC also said the border-crossing points are using a special device - the thermal scanner, which can remotely measure the human body temperature.
Aside from that, in order to raise awareness about the Ebola, the persons passing through the border checkpoints are given special booklets compiled by the Sanitary and Quarantine Inspection of the Health Ministry of Azerbaijan.
Ebola virus is rapidly spreading in West Africa, namely in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Congo and Senegal. The cases of Ebola infection have been registered in the US, Spain, Norway, Australia and other countries as well.
The World Heath Organization (WHO) reports 4,033 people have died so far, with 8,399 probable or suspected cases. However in reality, this number could be much higher due to under reporting of the disease.
The US Center for Disease Control claims cases in Liberia are doubling every 15-20 days while those in Sierra Leone are doubling every 30-40 days.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimate Liberia and Sierra Leone could see 1.4 million cases of Ebola within three months when under-reported cases are taken into account.
Edited by S.I.