Nurse vaccinating people against Ebola Virus Diseas (EVD) (Photo: Courtesy).

The Ministry of Health said the first consignment of reagents for testing Ebola is expected to arrive in Juba on Monday to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the disease.

The Director-General for Preventive Health Service at the Ministry, Dr. John Pasquale Rumunu, said reagents for testing Ebola donated by the East African Community will arrive in Juba October 3rd to boost the ongoing readiness against the disease.

“At the moment we do not have Ebola case… the samples have been sent to regional collaborative labs because we did not have the reagents for testing in the country, but we are receiving reagents on Monday,” Dr. Rumunu said while speaking at a press briefing on Ebola Virus disease on Sunday.

“So, we will not be sending samples out again, we will be testing them here in Juba. The reagents we are receiving tomorrow is the first batch and after that we will be replenishing the reagents frequently and I don’t envisage any gap. The reagents are coming from the East African Community.”

The ministry of health has intensified surveillance at entry points to prevent the deadly Ebola Virus Disease from spreading into the country from Uganda where the outbreak has been announced since September.

On Sunday, health authorities at the ministry announced there was no outbreak of Ebola in the country.

However, the ministry revealed that it was awaiting results of five suspected cases including one death that had been sent to regional lab for testing.

Alex Freeman, an Infection Prevention and Control expert with the World Health Organization urges the public to be vigilant.

Speaking at the same event on Sunday, Freeman emphasized the importance of handwashing as the main way of preventing the spread of Ebola.

He warned that the virus is deadly with past outbreaks in the region showing that one out of every two people infected dies from the disease.

“So, on average out of every two people who catch the disease, one or both die from the disease so, it is not a matter of joking let us adhere to the basics of infection, prevention and control.”

Freeman added: “Please remember that hand hygiene is very important lets ensure prepare the message and let the people wash their hands.”

 The outbreak in Uganda has killed seven people and infected scores in four districts since it was declared last month.