Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu
[email protected]
THE Government has called on Zimbabweans to remain vigilant following the spread of the Ebola virus in some parts of Africa, despite no cases having been reported in the country.
The Government said while Zimbabwe remains Ebola-free, the disease is highly contagious and potentially deadly, making preparedness and vigilance critical.
In a statement, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, assured the nation that there are currently no reported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Zimbabwe. However, given the high volume of human movement within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the country remains on high alert.
“As a responsible Government, Zimbabwe has activated its preparedness measures immediately following the outbreak declaration and the subsequent elevation of regional risk by the World Health Organisation. Cabinet reviewed the national preparedness report on 27 May 2026 and directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to maintain full readiness,” said Dr Mombeshora.
He said the Incident Management System has been activated and a comprehensive preparedness and response plan is now operational.
Dr Mombeshora said surveillance systems are fully functional, screening has been intensified at all ports of entry, and health workers are receiving ongoing training in disease detection, infection prevention and case management.
He added that isolation facilities have been designated in Harare, Bulawayo and Chirundu, while specialised transport has been put in place to ferry suspected or confirmed cases if necessary.
Personal protective equipment has also been pre-positioned, while emergency coordination mechanisms remain active.
Dr Mombeshora said public awareness remains the country’s strongest line of defence against the disease.
“We urge all Zimbabweans to remain vigilant and to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms consistent with Ebola particularly following travel to affected areas or contact with a suspected case. The public is specifically advised to seek immediate medical attention if Ebola symptoms develop, avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of any suspected case, practise regular hand hygien and ooperate fully with health authorities during investigations and contact tracing.
The Ministry is encouraging the public to rely only on verified information from official health sources regarding Ebola.”
The Government said it will continue monitoring the situation closely and implementing measures aimed at preventing the disease from entering the country.
