Africa's Ebola outbreak could reach UK, health official warns

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 15:42 · Archive

An Ebola outbreak in Africa has reached 10,000 cases with nearly 5,000 deaths and could spread internationally unless countries take preventative action.

An Ebola outbreak in Africa has exceeded 10,000 cases with nearly 5,000 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, is the largest and deadliest in the Democratic Republic of Congo's history and has affected four African countries, with Kenya reporting cases after a traveller from Congo died in Nairobi, and Nigeria becoming the fourth country to report infections. France is the only country outside Africa to have confirmed a case, after a doctor returned from DR Congo in June.

Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that the disease could reach the UK and other countries unless nations take appropriate preventative measures. He compared the outbreak's potential spread to Covid-19, which began in China before spreading worldwide. 'We want all countries to know that they are not safe if they don't take appropriate measures,' he said. 'Each country must now increase the preparedness level and the possibility for treatment.'

Kaseya stressed that the geographic spread across three African regions is unprecedented for Ebola. He cautioned that countries should not assume they are safe, noting that during the early stages of Covid-19, many nations initially assessed their risk as zero before later becoming hotspots. 'We don't want to see the UK and other countries become the hotspot,' he said.

How it is being reported

• Ebola outbreak kills nearly 5,000 as virus spreads beyond Congo and sparks global alarmHealth workers and authorities across the Democratic Republic of the Congo are struggling under the weight of more than 10,000 infections, and they are spreading internationallyThe Mirror · 28 Oct, 15:34
• Deadly Ebola outbreak could reach UK, top health expert warnsThe outbreak started in mid-may and has since become the largest and deadliest in CongoThe Independent · 28 Oct, 15:14
• Africa’s ‘unprecedented’ Ebola outbreak could reach UK, says top health officialJean Kaseya, of the Africa CDC, warns of the illness spreading like Covid unless more funding is secured The “unprecedented” spread of the Ebola outbreak means it could reach the UK and other countries, according to one of Africa’s top health officials. As the current outbreak reached 10,000 cases, with almost 5,000 deaths , Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared the outbreak to the Covid pandemic, which first took hold in China before spreading to countries across the world, claiming millions of lives, and ravaging health…The Guardian · 28 Oct, 09:37

In this story: Dr Jean Kaseya · Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention · Democratic Republic of Congo · Kenya · Nigeria · France · UK · China

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