Romania ups Defences Against Ebola Outbreak

Romania's government has allocated some 25 million lei (550,000 euro) to buy products needed to manage an Ebola-related health crisis.

"Romania is ready to deal with Ebola cases. We have devoted an entire floor of the Infectious Diseases Institute in Bucharest to the treatment of any potential cases, and four other facilities are prepared to accommodate Ebola patients if the need arises," Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu announced.

The government last week approved the creation of a national coordination committee to handle the issue while health officials have prepared a series of procedures to be followed to the letter regarding how to detect cases, and then monitor and treat patients.

All arrivals from Africa are being monitored by the authorities. They have to register when they enter the country and their health is monitored for 21 days after entry. Banicioiu said some 20 people were currently being monitored.

Altogether, more than 500 people have been monitored in the last two weeks, either because they returned from Africa or because they are foreign students coming from regions affected by Ebola.

So far, there have been two suspected cases of Ebola in Romania, but neither was proven, following tests.

European foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss how to strengthen responses to the threat posed by the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 4,500 people across West Africa.

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