A senior member of Mozambique’s ruling party has been placed in 10-day quarantine after returning home from China, the country worst-hit by the Sars epidemic, the Domingo newspaper said on Sunday.
Armando Guebuza, secretary general of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), and members of his delegation were met by health officials at Maputo airport on their arrival from China on Friday, the newspaper said.
They have been placed in isolation at the resort of Bilene, 100 kilometres north of Maputo in case any of them are infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).
Guebuza, who is due next year to run for election to succeed President Joaquim Chissano, has been travelling extensively in Mozambique and abroad ahead of the poll.
Mozambique health authorities this week warned nationals who have travelled to Sars-affected countries to place themselves in quarantine for at least 10 days when they return home.
The ministry of health has also placed officials at land, sea and air border posts to spot suspected cases of the disease.
No cases of Sars have yet been recorded in the southeast African country but one case has been detected in neighbouring South Africa. So far the flu-like epidemic has killed 449 people worldwide and infected more than 6 400. – Sapa-AFP