28 May 2026

Botswana has started intensified screening protocols at all points of Entry including airports and land borders following Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Countries have introduced screening protocols to contain the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has already killed hundreds.

In an interview, North East District Council Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms Kedibonye Mawana said since the start of screening, they had received five Zimbabwean national truck drivers, who were from DRC enroute South Africa. She said they did not show any signs of the disease.

Although no case had been recorded yet, she said they had established an isolation point at the Ramokgwena border post in case of registering anyone with symptoms of Ebola adding that Masunga Hospital and Clinic were ready to admit referred patients.

She said frontline workers were conducting temperature checks and symptoms screening for Ebola-related signs, which include fever, muscle pain, headache, weakness, diarhoea, vomiting, abdonominal pain and unexplained bleeding.  

Symptoms, she said, may appear between two and 21 days after exposure and at the point of entry, they screened and interview travellers orally. ENDS