Quarantine stepped up in Suez ports to counter Zika, Lassa viruses

The efficiency of quarantine has been raised in the Suez ports of Nuweiba and Safaga to prevent infections with Zika and Lassa viruses.

All vessels were instructed to provide medical supplies on board and medical reports be prepared by the doctor accompanying each vessel, spokesman of the Red Sea Ports Authority Abdel Rehim Mostafa said.

Ambulances will be available at the ports' platforms to deal with any suspected cases, the spokesman said.

Recently in Brazil, local health authorities have observed an increase in Zika virus infections in the general public as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil. Agencies investigating the Zika outbreaks are finding an increasing body of evidence about the link between Zika virus and microcephaly. Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and causes outbreaks almost every year in different parts of the country, with yearly peaks observed between December and February. The disease is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus. It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures.

Source: MENA