According to the World Health Organisation a new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will cost $10 million to fight, and it could take months because the victims are in a very remote and disrupted part of the country.
At least 20 people are sick with the virus and three have been killed, WHO officials said. They are the first deadly case — a 39-year-old man — a person who cared for him and a man who drove him on a motorcycle to seek help.
Dr. Peter Salama of the WHO told a news conference that the area has only 20 kilometres (12 miles) of paved roads and virtually no functioning telecommunications.
As of now the full extent of the outbreak remains unkown.
The WHO needs governments to help it and the Democratic Republic of the Congo fix airstrips, roads and set up clinics — and all that just to even get a grip on how bad the outbreak is, Salama said. Work is ongoing to get approval and facilities in place to use an experimental Ebola vaccine in the region.
There have been sporadic outbreaks of Ebola in various parts of Africa since 1976.
The first and only epidemic was in 2014-2016 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — a part of the continent where Ebola had never been seen before. It infected at least 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000 before it was brought under control.
The DRC is now experiencing its eighth Ebola outbreak.
Dr. Peter Salama of the WHO told a news conference that the area has only 20 kilometres (12 miles) of paved roads and virtually no functioning telecommunications.
As of now the full extent of the outbreak remains unkown.
The WHO needs governments to help it and the Democratic Republic of the Congo fix airstrips, roads and set up clinics — and all that just to even get a grip on how bad the outbreak is, Salama said. Work is ongoing to get approval and facilities in place to use an experimental Ebola vaccine in the region.
There have been sporadic outbreaks of Ebola in various parts of Africa since 1976.
The first and only epidemic was in 2014-2016 in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — a part of the continent where Ebola had never been seen before. It infected at least 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000 before it was brought under control.
The DRC is now experiencing its eighth Ebola outbreak.
We believe that the DRC's government has strong experience … and a proven track record of handling Ebola outbreaks -Dr. Peter Salama.An new vaccine developed to fight Ebola was tried out in West Africa but the cases were not enough to show its efficacy. That vaccine has not yet been approved by any government authority but Salama said it could be used under compassionate use circumstances if the DRC government agrees.
But it will be hard to get it to the affected area in the north of the country because of the lack of roads and electricity. The vaccine must be kept at -80 degrees C.
Salama recognises that this will be a huge challenge.
Salama recognises that this will be a huge challenge.
Of important notice the christian terrorist group, Lord's Resistance Army, has been operating in the area, WHO added.
In spite of the problems, Médecins Sans Frontières, a nonprofit aid group, has already set up a treatment center, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
In spite of the problems, Médecins Sans Frontières, a nonprofit aid group, has already set up a treatment center, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
I have been very encouraged by this rapid reponse -Moeti told a news conference.She said, polio vaccination teams were already in place, giving everyone a head start. Moeti said that they have been the people who are leading surveillance in the country.
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