Health experts have warned that the Ebola outbreak could spread beyond Africa, urging countries worldwide to strengthen their preparedness and healthcare response capacity.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the outbreak’s geographical spread was unusual and called on health authorities across all continents to prepare for a possible increase in cases.
Kaseya warned that no country should consider itself safe without taking appropriate preventive measures. Comparing the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said countries that had initially believed they would remain unaffected were later impacted by the virus. He said authorities wanted to prevent the United Kingdom and other countries from becoming major Ebola outbreak centres.
Ebola Cases and International Concerns
According to the report, Ebola infections have exceeded 10,000, while deaths have reached 5,000. The outbreak was first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May and has so far remained largely concentrated in African countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Experts have also raised concerns that the virus could reach the United Kingdom and remain undetected for several weeks. Professor Paul Hunter, a medical expert at the University of East Anglia, said several cases had already been reported in Europe during the outbreak.
The warning came days after a Swiss woman contracted Ebola in Nigeria. She initially received treatment in West Africa before being transferred to Geneva for further medical care.
Symptoms and Severity of the Current Ebola Strain
The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant that can cause death in up to 50 per cent of infected patients, according to the report.
Ebola symptoms initially resemble those of influenza and may include fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. In severe cases, the disease can cause internal bleeding, organ failure and death.
Health experts have urged countries to improve their preparedness and ensure they have the capacity to identify and treat potential cases.