Sudan screens arrivals from Uganda as Ebola precautions begin at Port Sudan airport

 May 19, PORT SUDAN — Sudanese health authorities began implementing Ebola prevention measures on Tuesday, screening passengers arriving at Port Sudan International Airport on a flight from Entebbe as the virus continues to spread in neighbouring African countries.

The National Quarantine Technical Committee said in a statement that it had completed preparations to prevent the virus from entering the country, including the screening of arrivals, the adoption of a dedicated epidemiological questionnaire, and confirmation that triage areas are fully operational.

The director of the National Quarantine Authority, Al-Fatih Rabie Abdullah, said the emergence of Ebola cases in neighbouring countries requires early preparedness at both Port Sudan and Khartoum airports, which receive a number of international flights. He said the precautionary measures are being applied in Red Sea, Khartoum, and White Nile states, with ongoing assessment of the situation at entry points and border crossings.

Abdullah added that a data collection form has been adopted for all arrivals from countries reporting outbreaks, and that an operations room has been established to monitor any emerging developments.

Sudan’s health system, which has suffered widespread destruction during the ongoing conflict, is already grappling with multiple disease outbreaks including malaria, dengue fever, and cholera, compounded by a severe shortage of medical personnel due to mass displacement and emigration.

In mid-May, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced a renewed Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reporting approximately 246 suspected cases including 65 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, which borders both Uganda and South Sudan.