The Newshound

Top African health official warns Ebola could reach the UK and spread like Covid as cases pass 10,000

An Ebola isolation tent in Nigeria, as the Swiss diplomat's wife — Nigeria's first case in the outbreak — was flown home to Switzerland with 52 contacts still under watch.
An Ebola isolation tent in Nigeria, as the Swiss diplomat's wife — Nigeria's first case in the outbreak — was flown home to Switzerland with 52 contacts still under watch.

Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, issued the stark warning as the Bundibugyo strain outbreak — now the largest and deadliest ever recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo — surpassed 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths across four African countries. France is currently the only country outside Africa to have confirmed a case, after a doctor returned from DR Congo in June. Kaseya warned that every continent must now raise preparedness levels immediately or risk repeating the early failures of the Covid pandemic.

The outbreak began in mid-May and has spread across DR Congo, Kenya, Nigeria and a fourth African country, marking the first time three African regions have been simultaneously affected.

There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, raising fears that the global response will be severely hampered if cases spread beyond Africa.

Nigeria's sole confirmed patient — a 42-year-old Swiss citizen who had travelled through Uganda — was evacuated to Switzerland, with the WHO confirming Nigeria currently has no active cases.

MoreThe IndependentTop health expert warns Ebola could 'spread globally like Covid'The GuardianAfrica’s ‘unprecedented’ Ebola outbreak could reach UK, says top health official2 Minute MedicineWHO says Nigeria has no active Ebola cases after patient is evacuated to Switzerland - 2 Minute MedicineThe IndependentDeadly Ebola outbreak could reach UK, top health expert warns
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →