03 Jun 2026

Following recent outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, Kgatleng District is ramping up preparedness and enhancing surveillance.

As of last week the district authorities have implemented strict border screenings at Sikwane port of entry.

During the Kgatleng District authorities meeting recently, District Public Health Physician, Dr Leungo Rainer said frontline workers were alert and that district health response committees had also been resuscitated and strengthened.

“We are ready for rapid response and we have also started engaging communities,” she said.

As Kgatleng District is also a transit route, Dr Rainer said it was important that Ebola protocols be strengthened at Artesia, where there was a high flow of truck drivers with a significant number of non-citizens.

In that regard, she said screening would be conducted at Artesia, where long haulage trucks packed for rest and during curfew hours.

She said screening included evaluating travelers at points of entry and assessing patients in clinical settings to prevent virus spread.

“We rely on a combination of approaches, including travel history questionnaires, symptom checks, temperature monitoring, and, if necessary molecular diagnostic tests,” she said.

Dr Rainer emphasised that it was a requisite for health officials to thoroughly check travel history especially if travelers had visited or transited through Ebola-affected areas such as parts of the DRC, Uganda and others, within the last 21 days

However, she also cautioned strict adherence at check points as some travelers may be dishonest, therefore emphasised the need to check their travel documents thoroughly.

Kgatleng District Commissioner, Mr Innocent Maotwe also called on district authorities and health officials to routinely align in order for swift response and preparedness for Ebola.

He also emphasised that screening protocols should  be followed as prescribed and that the communities be sensitised.ENDS