Ebola Simulation Causes Widespread Panic

A simulated exercise involving a woman exhibiting symptoms of the Ebola virus crossing the border from South Africa into Lesotho has caused mass panic across Southern Africa, after the story was incorrectly reported in the press.

It was said the woman had come into contact with someone with the virus in the DR Congo and was stopped whilst attempting to cross the border form South Africa into Lesotho.

The misunderstanding stemmed from an official in the South African Health Ministry incorrectly informing members of the media that the woman had been rushed to hospital after displaying symptoms and had subsequently tested positive for the virus.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a government body that provides public health research to support the government’s response to communicable diseases, confirmed on Twitter that it was an exercise.

They said “This was the first small scale field simulation exercise to test preparedness…  [W]e have not had a positive Ebola case”.

They further added that the “Chances of Ebola reaching South Africa are very slim.  Nonetheless, South Africa has strong response systems that are in place should there be a suspected case”.

This comes just two days following the news that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation to pharmaceutical company Merck’s vaccine for the virus, Ervebo.