Latest Ebola Outbreak Shows Why Preparedness Cannot Wait
With Ebola spreading in DR Congo and new cases reported in Uganda, ''the world needs to build stronger systems to quickly prevent outbreaks from escalating to this point again,'' writes Nigeria Health Watch MD Vivianne Ihekweazu. ''There is no magic bullet here; we must build intentionally and sustainably,'' she says.
''The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC has potential to become huge and of long duration,'' writes infectious disease epidemiologist Jia B. Kangbai, Senior Lecturer at Njala University in Sierra Leone, where had experience dealing with the Ebola outbreak in 2013-2016. He lists four reasons while the current outbreak will be hard to contain.
The recent outbreaks of both Ebola and hantavirus demonstrate ongoing vulnerability to rapidly spreading infectious diseases, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization warned in closing remarks at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Lack of funding is hampering the response. "We are trying to fight the disease with the equipment and resources available in order to save our people, who have already suffered from insecurity for a long time and now face a new ordeal," said Chérubin Radjabu, a nurse in the outbreak area. The current epidemic is also unfolding in conflict-affected areas, as well as amid global aid cuts and a fraught political situation in the country, all of which could significantly complicate the response.
Community representatives come to visit a family in the outskirts of Beni in DR Congo to raise awareness about Ebola.
Workers unload supplies from a cargo plane at Bunia airport as part of the Ebola response in DR Congo.
