WHO warns of Ebola outbreak in the region

East African countries are working on measures to prevent outbreaks of Ebola virus across borders after the World Health Organization issued a warning about the spread of the Ebola virus. the Democratic Republic of Congo to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

The December elections undermined efforts to contain the epidemic in DR Congo. At least 30 health facilities around disease outbreaks such as Beni and Butembo were targeted by protesters. Some citizens have also fled to Uganda for fear of violence.

Rwanda, together with its partners, has developed and implemented an Ebola preparedness and response plan in Gihundwe and Mibilizi District Hospitals and at Kamembe Airport in Rusizi District. , which directly serves Kigali.

WHO advised countries sharing a border with DR Congo to urgently strengthen their surveillance and warning systems for early detection and a rapid and effective response. to potential cases.

Countries in the region have reintroduced systematic screening of all travelers at ports of entry and warned citizens to be vigilant.

Screening is underway in the Rwandan districts of Rubavu and Gisenyi, bordering DR Congo, as well as in Kicukiro, where there is an Ebola treatment center.

At the end of last year, immunization of health workers and front-line workers in priority sites in Uganda has begun and preparations are underway for the adoption of similar measures in Rwanda. and South Sudan.

In South Sudan, a new multi-purpose unit on infectious diseases was opened as part of the monitoring and preparedness effort.

Since last November, $ 7.3 million has been mobilized for comprehensive prevention activities in Southern Sudan since the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo on 1 August.

Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, called for South Sudan to step up its efforts, especially at important entry points in the DRC and Uganda, to Yei River, Yambio, Nimule and Maridi.

According to Peter Salama, WHO's Deputy Director General for Emergency Preparedness, at least 30,000 informal traders and people move between the borders between Uganda and the DRC, posing a major challenge to the response to Ebola.

According to the Red Cross, at least 60,000 people move daily between Rwanda and Congo; more than 24,000 people cross the DR Congo-Burundi border each month and another 3,000 move between DR Congo and South Sudan each month.

Tanzanian Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu badured people living near the border with the DRC that the government was in a state of alert to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Kenya's Health Minister Kariuki said the government has set up a National Council of Health Emergencies to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to the WHO, as of January 15, there were 663 cases of Ebola (614 confirmed and 49 probable), including 407 deaths (the overall case fatality rate was 61%). So far, 237 people have left Ebola treatment centers.

WHO has alerted nine neighboring countries and told them that they were at high risk of spreading the virus. Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi are ranked first. Angola, Congo, Central African Republic, Tanzania and Zambia are ranked first.

Preparatory activities have been launched in these countries to enable them to respond quickly in the event of an Ebola outbreak.