WHO grows concerned that Ebola could spread into Republic of Congo
As more cases are recorded in a western province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), concerns grow that Ebola could spread into the Republic of Congo
Ebola has now been reported in Mbandaka, a city on the Congo River in the DRC that is connected to the capital of Kinshasa via the busy river route. As this river is used by thousands every week, the World Health Organization (WHO) fears that Ebola could soon spread drastically, and even spread into neighbouring countries of the Republic of Congo.
“The most recently affected area, Bomongo, is the second affected health zone that borders the Republic of Congo, which heightens the chances of this outbreak to spread into another country,” said WHO Spokesperson, Fadéla Chaib.
Indeed, should Ebola reach the DRC capital of Kinshasa, a city with a population of around 16 million people, the chances of suppressing Ebola will become increasingly challenging. In a tweet, WHO African Region said that it had ‘little time to waste’ in getting its vaccination teams to the site of the latest outbreak.
The latest outbreak marks the second Ebola outbreak in Equateur Province and the 11th overall in the DRC. Ebola presents a very serious risk to human health, and so it is vital that nations work to keep it under control, and that the travel industry stays abreast of the very real risk it poses to global travellers.
Robyn Bainbridge
Robyn Bainbridge edits the International Hospitals & Healthcare Review and is a writer and copy-editor for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Six years a freelance writer, she enjoys injecting a fresh take on a tired topic and is a keen advocate of sustainable tourism. She also has over 15 species of plants in her living room.