As the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo surpasses 10,000 confirmed cases, Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has issued a stark warning that “no one is safe” and urged countries, particularly Canada, to increase their support to combat the virus.
In an interview with CBC News from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, Kaseya emphasized the critical nature of the situation. He urged all nations, especially Western countries, to ensure they are prepared. “We are calling on all African countries to increase the level of preparedness,” he said, highlighting his personal connection to Canada, where he has lived since 2013 while his family remains in the country.
“This is my message to Canadians: No fear, no panic, but take it seriously,” Kaseya remarked. He expressed hope that Canadians would advocate for increased governmental support to help tackle the outbreak.
Death Toll Surges to Over 5,000
Kaseya’s comments come as the outbreak reaches a grim new milestone, with the death toll now exceeding 5,000, according to the latest data from the country’s public health institute. The outbreak was officially declared in mid-May, but there are suspicions that the Bundibugyo strain of the virus may have been spreading unnoticed in some of Congo’s remote areas for months. Ongoing conflict, public distrust, and the absence of approved treatments or vaccines for this strain have hampered containment efforts.
This outbreak has become the largest in the country’s history, and it is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak recorded globally, trailing only the West Africa crisis from 2014 to 2016, which infected over 28,000 people. Kaseya warned that if the current trend continues, the number of infections could exceed those seen during the West Africa outbreak within a year.
He also noted that cases have emerged in neighboring countries, including Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria, which recently reported its first Ebola infection in a decade. The patient, a Ugandan-born woman married to a Swiss diplomat, was flown to Switzerland for treatment.
Kaseya acknowledged the low risk to Canada at the moment but urged officials to do more to prevent the outbreak from expanding. “Move from low to zero by supporting [Africa] to stop the outbreak where it is currently,” he advised.
In response to the outbreak, Canada pledged $8 million as part of its Ebola response plan in May, which included funding for the Africa CDC and efforts to accelerate surveillance and biosecurity measures. The Canadian government has also implemented temporary border measures to mitigate the risk of Ebola entering Canada, including issuing outbreak alerts for countries with reported cases.
Canadian scientists are actively studying the Bundibugyo strain, with over 1,000 viral genomes sequenced so far to inform public health measures and vaccine development. However, researchers are concerned about limited funding for their work and are calling for greater investment from wealthier countries.
Despite praise for Canada’s current efforts, Kaseya cautioned that the threat of Ebola could persist for months without increased support to resolve the crisis effectively.
