GABORONE, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The screening of travelers at Botswana's entry points has been intensified, as several African countries are battling cholera outbreaks, an official said Tuesday.
Botswana is yet to detect a case of cholera, Christopher Nyanga, the spokesperson in Botswana's Ministry of Health, told Xinhua in a telephone interview, saying the southern African country is aware of outbreaks in its neighboring countries.
"Our health authorities are keeping an eye on the situation," said Nyanga, adding that the country's surveillance team is on standby to mobilize all the necessary resources in case of any such public health emergency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) last Friday announced that more than 2,880 cases of cholera were recorded across the African continent in the week ending on Feb. 26. According to the WHO, heavy rainfall in Malawi, and its neighbors South Africa and Zambia, is fueling the spread of the disease.
As a landlocked country, Botswana borders clear a daily average of between 10,000 and 15,000 travelers visiting or transiting the country, according to the country's immigration department. "It is normally difficult to anticipate if the disease will reach Botswana or not hence being on high alert," said Nyanga.
