The South African health department has confirmed that hospitals across the country are prepared to handle potential Ebola cases, following concerns over the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi highlighted that 24 public sector and 12 private sector hospitals have been designated to receive suspected or confirmed Ebola patients, with all public hospitals now operationalized for such scenarios.

The department has established three specialized committees to oversee pandemic preparedness, including hospital readiness assessments, incident management teams, and public health emergency coordination.

Key measures include enhanced screening at major entry points like OR Tambo International Airport, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for border authorities, and strict infection control protocols.While routine quarantine is not planned, the focus remains on early detection, contact tracing, and rapid response mechanisms.

Infectious disease expert Prof Salim Abdool Karim emphasized that South Africa’s preparedness measures are robust, though stricter isolation protocols may be required for Ebola compared to other diseases like hantavirus.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has urged healthcare workers to remain vigilant, particularly for individuals presenting with fever and recent travel history from affected regions.