MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is not in danger of an Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak, Russian consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, head Anna Popova told journalists.
“As of today, we do not see any risks for the epidemiological security in the territory of Russian Federation,” Popova said.
She added that all the necessary measures are being taken in order to prevent the disease's spread to Russia. Popova said that the sanitary and quarantine control stations in the airports are engaged in the sanitary protection of the Russian territory, and that everyone arriving to Russia from the outbreak's affected countries undergoes serious medical examination.
Popova highlighted that Russia’s infectious diseases hospitals are ready to provide medical care to anyone in need, and that Russia’s labs are ready to carry out all tests that may be required.
According to Anna Popova, the incubation period for the Ebola virus is 21 days and its first symptoms are not specific. She advised anyone who has recently travelled to West Africa and suffers from any illnesses to seek urgent medical attention.
She also said that at the moment, the team of Russian experts is working in the affected regions, monitoring the situation and ensuring the safety of Russian citizens in Guinea.
The worst Ebola outbreak in history started in February in Guinea and quickly spread to its neighboring countries.
Ebola has a fatality rate of nearly 90percent. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissue of infected animals or people. Symptoms of the disease include the sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, kidney and liver problems, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.
According to Rospotrebnadzor, 1,603 cases of infection have been registered since February, and 887 people have died of the virus. At the same time, WHO gave different figures, stating that 1,440 people have contracted the disease since February, and that 826 have been killed.
