According to the Nepali Army, there are currently more than 970 Nepali peacekeepers serving in Congo. Some of them are in the Bunia area of Ituri province, considered the epicenter of the outbreak.
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Nepal has also increased its alertness to the possible spread of the Ebola virus after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak a 'public health emergency of international concern'.
The WHO on Sunday declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. There have been 246 suspected cases of infection. About 80 people have died in Congo since April due to Ebola.
The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division under the Ministry of Health has alerted all health agencies, including the health desk at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
'We are preparing to hold a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the risks and necessary preparations,' said the director of the division, Dr. Anuj Bhattarai, adding, 'We have taken the matter seriously.'
Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this virus can cause fatal disease. Its mortality rate can be 80 to 90 percent.
Nepal, on the other hand, has focused its main attention on the health desk at Tribhuvan International Airport, as the risk of infected people entering Nepal via land is low.
‘Health workers have been deployed at the health desk 24 hours a day to screen passengers coming from affected countries,’ Bhattarai said, ‘Relevant authorities have been instructed to tighten surveillance.’
According to public health experts in Nepal, Nepal, like other countries, is highly susceptible to Ebola infection due to the increase in global travel. With thousands of foreigners visiting Nepal daily and millions of Nepalis traveling abroad for employment, there is a risk that the disease seen anywhere in the world could enter Nepal.
‘The increasing demand for the vaccine against yellow fever indicates that the number of Nepalis traveling to African countries for employment and business is increasing,’ said Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun said, ‘We have seen the infection of viruses like Mpox, SARS-CoV-2, swine flu, so the risk of any disease should not be underestimated.’
Nepali peacekeepers are also deployed in African countries affected by Ebola.
According to the Nepali Army, more than 970 Nepali peacekeepers are currently working in Congo. Some of them are in the Bunia area of Ituri province, which is considered the epicenter of the outbreak.
‘We have quarantined the soldiers who returned from patrols in the Bunia area,’ said Nepali Army Spokesperson and Assistant Lieutenant Colonel Rajaram Basnet, ‘So far, no Nepali soldier has been infected with Ebola.’
According to him, the army, being aware of the risk of infection, has issued instructions to peacekeepers deployed in conflict-affected countries to take necessary precautions.
Experts have suggested that the government strengthen laboratory facilities, train health workers, and make surveillance more effective to reduce the risk of deadly diseases like Ebola.
According to them, even if the risk of Ebola in Nepal is low, it would be a serious mistake to completely deny it.
