15 Nov 2014

Samoa continues to take precautions against Ebola

6:49 pm on 15 November 2014

Samoa's Ministry of Health is continuing its efforts to protect the country from any possible threat of the Ebola virus, in the leadup to a tuna conference.

The ministry's chief executive, Toleafoa Leusa Take Naseri, says the Government is taking the threat of Ebola very seriously because of its history.

In 1918, 22 percent of the population in Samoa died from the Spanish flu pandemic.

Dr Naseri says the country is hosting a tuna conference in two weeks time and is preparing for an influx of international travellers.

He says Samoa would rather err on the side of caution to make sure Ebola does not enter the country.

Toleafoa Leusa Take Naseri says the ministry has activated its national health status alert to level 1, which is low risk, but has also boosted surveillance at its borders.