Health workers have issued a warning about the current Ebola outbreak in East Africa. They caution that if the infection rates do not stabilize, containing the outbreak could take up to a year.
The situation is already considered one of the most severe in recent decades, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mistrust towards authorities and ongoing violence in the eastern regions complicate efforts of health workers trying to assist those in need.
If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon, it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern D.R.C.,said Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, during an emergency conference for African leaders.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 800 confirmed cases. Nearly 200 fatalities have occurred so far. The previous worst recorded Ebola outbreak took place from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa, claiming over 11,000 lives, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Kaseya’s concerns were shared by other health officials and experts, highlighting the formidable challenges health workers face. Bruno Michon, overseeing the Ebola response in Congo for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, noted the urgency.
“We are running after the disease,” he stated.