The numbers coming out of Congo are hard to read. The DR Congo Ebola death toll has passed 5,000, according to government data announced on Friday, in what is the country’s deadliest outbreak on record.
A Fast and Stubborn Outbreak
More than 10,000 people have been infected since the outbreak was declared in May. The cause is the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine. Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped it move faster than earlier outbreaks, reaching eight of the DRC’s 26 provinces.
This is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak to date, after the 2014-2016 epidemic in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where more than 28,600 people were infected, and more than 11,000 died.
Beyond Congo’s Borders
Nigeria became the fourth African country to report a case last week, taking the outbreak into West Africa. Kenya and Uganda have also recorded cases. For readers in Lagos, Nairobi or Kampala, this is a regional problem that needs a regional answer.
Governments are reacting. Quarantine measures have been announced by the government of Uganda for citizens arriving back from abroad, while Friday saw the Saudi Arabian government ban travels to and from Kenya, issuing no more visas and denying access to those who were present in Kenya in the last 21 days. In June, this happened for the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
What Does This Mean For You?
Travelling bans come at a cost for trade, education and pilgrimage. Such measures fail to halt the virus alone, and what succeeds is early identification, swift isolation of contacts, and accurate information on part of the health ministry. Families should report symptoms early and avoid unsafe burial practices, as health workers have long urged.
Congo’s fight is far from over, and the world’s attention tends to fade long before an outbreak ends. Africa cannot afford that this time.
Read More
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Ebola Vaccine Trial in DR Congo Begins: Africa’s Race for Answers
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Ebola Travel Safety: How to Protect Yourself on the Road During an Outbreak
