07-17-2019, 04:11 PM
** 17-Jul-2019 World View: Ebola in DR Congo declared international emergency
![[Image: _107910812_optimised-june.ebola.line-nc.png]](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/5529/production/_107910812_optimised-june.ebola.line-nc.png)
As I described two days ago, the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to the city of Goma, a city of more
than two million people, a transport hub for all of central Africa.
An Ebola outbreak in Goma has the ability to spread rapidly to other
countries throughout the region.
*** 15-Jul-2019 World View: Ebola in DR Congo reaches Goma
http://gdxforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?...613#p46613
Since that time, officials have been expressing the hope that the
outbreak in Goma had been contained and isolated. Furthermore, WHO
has declined to make a global emergency declaration on three previous
occasions, for fear of causing panic.
So it was something of a surprise on Wednesday when the World Health
Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a "public health
emergency of international concern." This suggests that there are
fears greater than have been publicly admitted that the outbreak has
not been contained in Goma. Furthermore, Goma is on the border with
Uganda, raising fears that the spread could cross into that country.
According to the WHO:
WHO says that it's still a regional outbreak, with no international
danger outside the region at this time.
---- Sources:
-- Ebola outbreak in Congo declared a global health emergency
https://wtop.com/national/2019/07/ebola-...emergency/
(AP, 17-Jul-2019)
-- DR Congo Ebola outbreak declared global health emergency
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49025298
(BBC, 17-Jul-2019)
- Ebola cases -- August 2018 to July 17, 2019
As I described two days ago, the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to the city of Goma, a city of more
than two million people, a transport hub for all of central Africa.
An Ebola outbreak in Goma has the ability to spread rapidly to other
countries throughout the region.
*** 15-Jul-2019 World View: Ebola in DR Congo reaches Goma
http://gdxforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?...613#p46613
Since that time, officials have been expressing the hope that the
outbreak in Goma had been contained and isolated. Furthermore, WHO
has declined to make a global emergency declaration on three previous
occasions, for fear of causing panic.
So it was something of a surprise on Wednesday when the World Health
Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a "public health
emergency of international concern." This suggests that there are
fears greater than have been publicly admitted that the outbreak has
not been contained in Goma. Furthermore, Goma is on the border with
Uganda, raising fears that the spread could cross into that country.
According to the WHO:
- Borders will not be closed -- otherwise people will just go
through unofficial border posts.
- Airline flights will not be canceled. When airline flights were
canceled in previous emergencies, many health workers were unable to
reach the region, and medicines could not be shipped.
- They're hoping that the declaration of global emergency will bring
in more international help and money.
WHO says that it's still a regional outbreak, with no international
danger outside the region at this time.
---- Sources:
-- Ebola outbreak in Congo declared a global health emergency
https://wtop.com/national/2019/07/ebola-...emergency/
(AP, 17-Jul-2019)
-- DR Congo Ebola outbreak declared global health emergency
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49025298
(BBC, 17-Jul-2019)
