The WHO’s regional director for Africa has reportedly warned that it would be a big mistake to underestimate the threat of Friday’s Ebola outbreak.
There is a need to caution as just one case could spread the virus beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
According to DRC Health Ministry data published on Thursday, the outbreak has resulted in 160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases, of which 61 have now been confirmed.
“It would be a big mistake to underestimate it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, for which we don’t have the vaccine,” Mohamed Yakub Janabi said in an interview at WHO headquarters in Geneva.
“It only takes one contact case to put us all at risk, so my wish and prayer is that we give (Ebola) the attention it deserves,” he said.
As for the situation, Janabi declined to comment on the expected scale of the current outbreak, and experts are efficiently investigating the entire situation.
The “hyperdynamic movement of the people” made it challenging to assess the situation even as efforts were made to scale up testing, prevention measures and community engagement.
Epidemiologists in particular have yet to recognize the case, which is crucial for investigating and isolating the initial web of contacts.
