‘Don’t ignore the threat’: WHO warns of Ebola spread across Africa

The WHO regional director for Africa has reportedly issued a warning that it would be a significant mistake to underestimate the threat posed by the Ebola outbreak on Friday. 

One needs to be cautioned as just one case could spread the virus beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. 

According to DRC health ministry data published on Thursday, the outbreak has resulted in 160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases, with 61 cases now confirmed.

“It would be a big mistake to underestimate ​it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, (for) which we don't ⁠have the vaccine,” Mohamed Yakub Janabi said in an interview at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

“You just need ​one contact case to put all of us at risk, so my wish and prayer ​is that we should give (Ebola) the attention it deserves,” he said.

Concerning the situation, Janabi declined to comment on the expected scale of the current outbreak, and experts are efficiently in the process of scrutinizing the entire situation. 

The “hyperdynamic movement of the people" made it challenging to evaluate the situation, even as the efforts were made to scale up testing, prevention measures and community engagement. 

Notably, epidemiologists have yet to recognize the case, which is pivotal for scrutinizing and isolating the initial web of contacts.