CAR tightens border checks as DR Congo's Ebola cases rise

As the number of Ebola cases in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo hits over 10,000, the Central African Republic has stepped up screening along their river border. At this frontier post in the capital, Bangui, that sits on the banks of the waterway which forms the southern frontier with the Congo, health workers are raising awareness among local communities. I came here to buy goods and the health workers took my temperature. They said it was to prevent cholera and Ebola but I'm not afraid. I don't have either disease. My concern is that we could be exposed through the people we bring back from the other side of the river. We transport them between the two countries without any protection. Sometimes we hear that someone over there has died of Ebola. I could become infected. Despite the risks, economic activity continues along the Ubangi River. At the Mpoko Bak pier in the southwest of the city, travellers who've just crossed over from the DRC wash their hands under the watchful eye of a health worker. There is a person who will be there. There'll be someone standing by the door to show them how to wash their hands. After washing their hands, they'll undergo what's known as a briefing. The staff member will brief them. Followed by guidance on taking their temperature and recording the results. And the recording. With the virus in three Congolese regions bordering the country, the authorities have launched awareness campaigns, drafting the help of neighborhood chiefs, community and religious leaders to communicate prevention guidelines. You know, we have more than... You know, we share more than 1,500 kilometres of river borders with this neighbouring country. And as you know, the same communities live on both sides of the border. As a result, there's a great deal of movement of people and goods. Officials say it's important that residents are aware of how to protect themselves. And while there's no cases in the Central African Republic yet, there's growing concern among residents. As for many who make their living from river transport, fishing or trade, avoiding the waterway is not an option.