The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a $518 million initiative to tackle the ongoing Ebola outbreak affecting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This outbreak, which began on May 15, has already resulted in 64 deaths in the DRC and has spread to Uganda, where the death toll has reached two.
The plan, set to run from June to November, focuses on critical areas such as emergency coordination, surveillance, testing, and community engagement. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed optimism that this comprehensive approach will help contain the outbreak and prevent further spread, especially in neighbouring countries.
One significant aspect of this outbreak is the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has been circulating unnoticed for some time. The current situation is more severe than previous Bundibugyo outbreaks in 2007 and 2012, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention.
As the outbreak escalates, frustrations are growing in Kenya, where the U.S. is establishing an Ebola quarantine station despite the country having no recorded cases. This has led to protests, underscoring the broader regional anxiety surrounding the outbreak and the measures being taken to control it.
Source: Al Jazeera
