Ebola virus outbreak on ‘KNIFE-EDGE’: Virus spreads as chiefs true scale of crisis UNKNOWN
THE EBOLA outbreak is on a “knife-edge” as the epidemic sweeps across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRP) with the World Health Organisation admitting they have not yet located every case.
By LATIFA YEDROUDJ
Express.co.uk
Tue, May 29, 2018
Dozens of people have been infected in the densely-populated city of Mbandaka, with the virus so far killing more than 25 deaths across the country.
Aid agencies and Congolese officials have been working tirelessly to minimise the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Mbandaka, since the first reported case was cited 250 miles (400km) north-east of the capital of Kinhasa almost two weeks ago.
Michael Ryan, assistant director-general of the World Health Organisation said officials are scrambling to prevent the disease from spreading among Mbandaka’s 1 million residents.
He said: “It’s somewhere between on a knife-edge and under control.
“Things are improving but I don’t believe we’ve yet detected every possible case so we are remaining at very high alert.
“We’re dealing with extremes here, a densely populated city at one end, to a deep forest situation at the other.
“The response has been a lot stronger with a lot more resources brought to bear.
“It hasn’t made the difference yet but when we look back in hindsight it will be noted that this early stage and massive mobilisation of resources will have helped.”
There have been 25 deaths and 56 reported infections since the first outbreak of the virus on in the remote Bikoro region on May 8, Congo’s health ministry reported.
International experts say there has been a massive change in the urgency of the Congolese government to highlight the the risks of the virus spreading, which was downplayed during the 2014 West African epidemic.
Protection kits were distributed to local hospitals and traveller screening commenced, even before the first cases of the contagious virus were confirmed by health officials.
Oly Ilunga, health minister for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said: “The government knew this outbreak presented a higher risk than last year’s (smaller) outbreak due to the fact the health workers were among the first victims.
“All the major international organisations have worked in better alignment with the government’s Ebola response plan.”
Experts have pointed out the Congo’s efficiency after they raised $58.6 million Kinshasa’s appeal in two days, with majority coming from international funds by the World Bank’s new Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility set up with Japan and Germany last year.
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