Congo’s Neighbors at High Risk of Ebola, WHO Chief Warns
The World Health Organization warns that countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo are at high risk from the ongoing Ebola outbreak and should take immediate action to counter the virus.
GENEVA: The countries neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are at a high risk from Ebola and must act immediately to combat the virus, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is outpacing response efforts.
As of now, there are 220 suspected deaths linked to the epidemic.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
(AFP)The delay in detecting Ebola cases has put responders in a challenging position, as they are now 'playing catch-up' with the rapidly evolving situation.
The outbreak is likely to worsen before it improves, according to the director-general.
Additionally, Uganda reported two more Ebola cases on Monday, bringing its total confirmed cases to seven.The WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.
Containing this fast-moving outbreak is complicated by the insecurity in the DRC's Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where there are no approved vaccines for the Bundibugyo virus.
Health workers on the front lines are already facing shortages of basic supplies and have to contend with attacks on their facilities as well as patients fleeing the scene due to fear.In the northeastern province of Ituri, at least three incidents targeting Ebola treatment centers have occurred, including two over the weekend that targeted the same hospital.
These incidents forced more than 20 patients to flee, raising concerns about potential outbreaks in neighboring regions.The violence towards healthcare facilities during the 2018-2020 outbreak in eastern DRC, which resulted in the deaths of over 25 health workers, is remembered as a grim reminder of how fragile the situation can become.
The influx of aid and personnel into previously neglected areas has fueled local suspicions about the true motivations behind this sudden surge of interest.Dr. Richard Lokodu, medical director of the Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, stated that denial of the disease within the population is a significant issue.
Some community members have refused to accept the reality of Ebola and have sought to claim the bodies of suspected and confirmed cases, further complicating containment efforts.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is outpacing response efforts.
As of now, there are 220 suspected deaths linked to the epidemic.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
(AFP)The delay in detecting Ebola cases has put responders in a challenging position, as they are now 'playing catch-up' with the rapidly evolving situation.
The outbreak is likely to worsen before it improves, according to the director-general.
Additionally, Uganda reported two more Ebola cases on Monday, bringing its total confirmed cases to seven.The WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.
Containing this fast-moving outbreak is complicated by the insecurity in the DRC's Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where there are no approved vaccines for the Bundibugyo virus.
Health workers on the front lines are already facing shortages of basic supplies and have to contend with attacks on their facilities as well as patients fleeing the scene due to fear.In the northeastern province of Ituri, at least three incidents targeting Ebola treatment centers have occurred, including two over the weekend that targeted the same hospital.
These incidents forced more than 20 patients to flee, raising concerns about potential outbreaks in neighboring regions.The violence towards healthcare facilities during the 2018-2020 outbreak in eastern DRC, which resulted in the deaths of over 25 health workers, is remembered as a grim reminder of how fragile the situation can become.
The influx of aid and personnel into previously neglected areas has fueled local suspicions about the true motivations behind this sudden surge of interest.Dr. Richard Lokodu, medical director of the Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, stated that denial of the disease within the population is a significant issue.
Some community members have refused to accept the reality of Ebola and have sought to claim the bodies of suspected and confirmed cases, further complicating containment efforts.
