DR Congo Ebola Outbreak On 'epidemiological Knife Edge': WHO
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 23, 2018 | 05:04 PM
A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has a clear "potential to expand", the WHO warned Wednesday, as it reported seven more cases of the disease.
Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2018 ) :A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has a clear "potential to expand", the WHO warned Wednesday, as it reported seven more cases of the disease.
"We are on the epidemiological knife edge," Peter Salama, in charge of emergency response at the World Health Organization (WHO), told a special meeting. "The next few weeks will really tell if this outbreak is going to expand to urban areas or if we are going to be able to keep it under control," said Salama.
The agency issued a new toll, saying there had been 58 cases since the outbreak was declared on May 8, an increase of seven over figures issued on Tuesday, of which 27 have been deaths. One of the world's most notorious diseases, Ebola is a virus-caused haemorrhagic fever that in extreme cases leads to fatal bleeding from internal organs, the mouth, eyes or ears.
The outbreak began in rural northwestern DR Congo in a remote location called Bikoro. Last Thursday, a first case was reported in Mbandaka -- a city of around 1.2 million people that lies on the Congo River, where it is a transport hub to Brazzaville and Kinshasa downstream and to Bangui, upstream.
So far, seven cases have surfaced in Mbandaka districts, WHO said. "An urban case means that it can spread quickly.
That is another challenge," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told Wednesday's special session during the agency's annual World Health Assembly.
- 'Really serious' - The proximity of the outbreak to neighbouring countries, especially through the river connection, was a major concern, he said. "They are connected, they are very close, and that is another challenge that makes the problem really serious," he said.
Salama said that another concerning factor was that five healthcare workers were among those infected. "That is a tragedy in its own right, but it also signals the potential for further amplification," he said.
At the same time, though, the top WHO officials and DRC's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Zenon Mukongo Ngay, who spoke at the event, stressed the massive efforts put in place to halt the outbreak.
Salama pointed out that in just the two weeks since the outbreak was declared, clinical care facilities have been set up, an air bridge has been established to Bikoro, emergency financing has been mobilised, protective gear and emergency medical kits have been supplied.
In addition, a vaccination campaign has begun and more than 120 staff of WHO alone have been deployed alongside numerous staff from other organisations under the leadership of the DRC government.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Sharjah Animation Conference explores cross-cultural collaboration opportunities ..
Sharjah Public Library provides countless opportunities for young imaginations t ..
Sharjah Police launches 'Your belongings, your responsibility' awareness campaig ..
Dubai Police displays Innovative Tourism Security Services at 'ATM 2024'
Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal not part of national squad for Ireland, England: Bab ..
Erdogan opens former church to Muslim worshippers
Cultural events hallmark of a nation, Director RAC
Iraq hangs 11 convicted of 'terrorism': security, health sources
Stocks rise on renewed hopes of rate cuts
PM assures all-out support to Saudi investment
S.Africa building collapse traps 48 workers: city hall
Nilofar lauds efforts for development of national document aimed promoting balan ..
More Stories From World
-
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
4 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
4 hours ago -
Atalanta climb into Serie A top five ahead of Marseille decider
4 hours ago -
Jones frustrates Wilson's quest to win World Snooker final
4 hours ago -
No let up yet for flood-battered south Brazil
6 hours ago -
Serie A blasts plans for government football finance body
6 hours ago
-
Prophet's Mosque accommodates over 4.2 million worshippers last week
6 hours ago -
UN experts slams Israel’s ‘sexual assault and violence’ against women, children in Gaza
6 hours ago -
Merlier pips Milan to Giro third stage, bold Pogacar holds lead
6 hours ago -
Sharjah Animation Conference explores cross-cultural collaboration opportunities, highlights new pro ..
6 hours ago -
Sharjah Public Library provides countless opportunities for young imaginations to take flight at SCR ..
6 hours ago -
Sharjah Police launches 'Your belongings, your responsibility' awareness campaign
6 hours ago