By Ruben Nyanguila
The Ebola outbreak that began in DR Congo is becoming a continental crisis after authorities initially underestimated its spread, the head of Africa’s public health agency told Semafor.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, this week confirmed its first case of the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no proven vaccine. It has now spread further across Africa than any previous Ebola outbreak, with cases in the continent’s central, eastern, and western regions.
“We could see every region of Africa affected, and that is beginning to happen,” Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview.
He said the outbreak was initially viewed as relatively easy to contain, with little expectation that it would spread to other African regions.
So far most cases have been in DR Congo, accounting for more than 4,600 deaths. Health, finance, and transport ministers will meet next week to discuss national and cross-border measures.
Kaseya said he expected a response plan, dividing responsibilities among regional organizations, to be drawn up in the coming days.
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