No Ebola in Kurdistan, but KRG on alert
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is on alert for possible Ebola cases in the region, although none have so far been identified, a health official has told Rudaw.
Dr Khals Qadir, director of public relations for the Ministry of Health, said that by Monday there had been no reports of any Ebola cases, but steps have been taken to prevent any future outbreak.
Kurdish health officials took preventative steps after rumors spread of a possible Ebola case in Iraq on December 31. The rumor was later denied by the World Health Organization after an investigation.
Qadir added that the KRG has stopped offering visa services to several African countries including Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, where Ebola has been identified. The KRG has also stopped its citizens from traveling to those locations, he said.
More than 10,300 people have reportedly died from Ebola in West Africa. The virus can be spread by body fluids, such as blood and saliva.
Dr Khals Qadir, director of public relations for the Ministry of Health, said that by Monday there had been no reports of any Ebola cases, but steps have been taken to prevent any future outbreak.
Kurdish health officials took preventative steps after rumors spread of a possible Ebola case in Iraq on December 31. The rumor was later denied by the World Health Organization after an investigation.
Qadir added that the KRG has stopped offering visa services to several African countries including Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, where Ebola has been identified. The KRG has also stopped its citizens from traveling to those locations, he said.
More than 10,300 people have reportedly died from Ebola in West Africa. The virus can be spread by body fluids, such as blood and saliva.