Here’s where Ebola could spread based on flight patterns
An Ebola outbreak is emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
So far, 58 cases believed to be Ebola, including 27 deaths, have been reported from three spots in the DRC’s Equateur Province.
EcoHealth Alliance identified places where the virus could travel based on flight patterns.
Angelica LaVito
CNBC.com
5/25/2018
An Ebola outbreak is emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a nonprofit that studies infectious diseases identified where it could spread based on flight patterns.
So far, 58 cases believed to be Ebola, including 27 deaths, have been reported from three spots in the DRC’s Equateur Province. World Health Organization officials this week started administering Merck’s experimental Ebola vaccine to health workers in affected areas.
EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that studies outbreaks, used software to identify where Ebola could spread through infected passengers. The system used flight patterns from the airports in Mbandaka, Kinshasa and Brazzaville, those nearest to Bikoro, where the outbreak started.
This doesn’t mean Ebola will make it to these cities, said EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak. Rather, the findings should encourage officials in these places to prepare so they’re not scrambling if it does.
“The problem with diseases like Ebola, the minute a case is reported the public overreacts, which is natural because Ebola is a scary disease,” Daszak said. “The breakdown of logistics is too late to get properly organized. Health authorities need to get outbreak teams assembled and ready. Communication needs to be set up to get ready.”
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