WHO Africa chief warns against underestimating Ebola outbreak risk
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The World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has warned that underestimating the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa would be a “big mistake,” saying even a single case could spread the virus beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Speaking to Reuters in Geneva on Friday, Janabi said the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no vaccine available.
“It would be a big mistake to underestimate it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, for which we don't have the vaccine,” he said.
Janabi urged countries and health authorities to work together to contain the outbreak before it spreads further.
“So I would really encourage everyone, let's help each other, we can bring this thing under control,” he said.
He also said the Ebola outbreak in Congo has received relatively little global attention compared with this month’s hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship passengers from 23 countries, including several major powers.