Maridi State stepped up its contingency plan for Ebola preparedness and response with the training of health workers to create awareness among citizens, a local health official said.

Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

Addressing the press on Sunday, Minister of Health in Maridi State, Osia Dimo Aburasu said they have formed a task force to develop an emergency plan for Ebola response to prevent the spread of the virus.

He pointed out that local residents started to fear following reports of Ebola virus infections in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).