Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka has launched a five-point preparedness plan following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo as a public health emergency.

Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena stated that precautionary measures have been introduced to strengthen national preparedness.

The measures include enhanced airport surveillance, treatment readiness at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and improved diagnostic capacity at the Medical Research Institute.

The Ministry also noted that Sri Lanka has been categorised as a low-risk country for Ebola transmission and urged the public not to panic.