South Sudan’s Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance in Western Equatoria region to prevent the spread of Ebola disease.

The most recent outbreak of the Ebola virus began in July in North Kivu Province in neighboring Congo. So far, health officials have identified 129 probable and confirmed cases. Eighty-nine people have died.

During his visit to Tambura State, Health Minister Riek Gai Kok stressed the need to set up checking points at the border posts to ensure suspected cases do not cross over.

The South Sudanese official pledged to deploy more doctors to Tambura State to prevent Ebola from crossing into the country.

For his part, the Minister of Health in Tambura State, David Simbi said they had opened new centres at the common border with neighboring Congo to carry out investigations into the deadly Ebola virus.

He pointed out that the deployed team has also issued an Ebola alert at the border towns but it lacks equipment for screening at border posts.

Elsewhere in Maridi State, National Health Minister Riek Gai Kok said creating awareness is a key component of the response to Ebola.