JUBA) – South Sudan remains free of Ebola after seven suspected cases all tested negative, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Friday, describing the heightened surveillance as purely precautionary amid outbreaks in neighbouring countries.
Undersecretary Dr. Oromo Francis Seriano told a press briefing in Juba that no confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case had been found anywhere in the country. “The Ministry of Health wishes to reassure the public that South Sudan has not recorded any confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease,” he said.
The seven suspected cases were identified and investigated in four locations. Four were in Juba, with one each in Ezo, Yambio and Nimule. Six samples were analysed at the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba, while one was processed at the mobile laboratory in Nimule. All returned negative results.
Health officials said the investigations showed the country’s surveillance system was working as intended by detecting and rapidly assessing potential threats before they could spread.
The announcement came as regional vigilance remains high over Ebola outbreaks in neighbouring states. Officials noted that South Sudan’s strategic location and busy, often porous borders make preparedness critical even without confirmed infections.
The Ministry of Health has strengthened several measures to reduce the risk of an outbreak. These include disease surveillance, border screening, rapid response teams, laboratory capacity, infection prevention and control, and public awareness campaigns to help communities identify and report suspected cases promptly. “Our current activities are strictly precautionary,” Dr. Francis said.
The ministry is coordinating closely with the World Health Organization, UN agencies, neighbouring governments and other international partners to reinforce the country’s preparedness and response capacity.
Health authorities also appealed to the international community not to impose travel restrictions on South Sudan. They argued such measures would unnecessarily disrupt trade, humanitarian operations and the movement of people despite the country remaining Ebola free.
WHO Representative Dr. Humphrey Karamagi said the investigation of suspected cases should be viewed as evidence that the surveillance system is functioning effectively, not as a cause for public concern. “At present, we do not have any case of Ebola in South Sudan,” Dr. Karamagi said, adding that identifying and investigating alerts shows an active public health system capable of responding quickly to potential disease threats.