Specialists from Russia's consumer watchdog have checked more than 3 million passengers arriving at the country's airports as part of the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
The watchdog said in an online statement published Friday that Rospotrebnadzor specialists had examined more than 3 million passengers from various countries, including African countries, from August to October.
Of those checked, 22 people were hospitalized and examined for signs of Ebola, but all were found to be clean of the viral disease, the statement said.
The agency has stepped up efforts to prevent the disease from spreading to Russian soil after infections were recorded in the U.S. and Europe for the first time ever in the most deadliest Ebola outbreak to date.
According to data from the World Health Organization, the virus has claimed nearly 3,000 lives since its outbreak in Africa last December. The number of deaths suspected of being caused by Ebola but not proven is even higher, at 4,881.
Last week, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced it had allocated $3.8 million to help the country prepare for a possible outbreak of Ebola, in addition to another $3.95 million meant for research work.
Moscow has also set aside $5.2 million in humanitarian aid for the West African countries hit hardest by the outbreak.
