The deadly Ebola outbreak that began in Congo in May is outpacing efforts to contain it, spreading to two other regions of Africa and taking advantage of gaps in surveillance.
uncertain
that → begin → surveillance
The disease is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
asserted
disease → cause → which
More than 9,700 people have been infected, nearly half of whom have died, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo’s history and the fastest-growing in the world.
asserted
it → infect → world
Nigeria this week became the fourth country outside Congo to report an Ebola case, in a woman returning from Uganda.
asserted
Nigeria → become → Uganda
A recurring problem is poor surveillance at entry points, as most initial cases were confirmed long after people arrived from territories where Ebola is active and started showing symptoms.
asserted
Ebola → recur → symptoms
“Ebola is crossing borders.
asserted
Ebola → cross → borders
Our response must move faster, with stronger coordination, greater solidarity and decisive political leadership,” Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Wednesday.
asserted
Kaseya → move → Wednesday
Experts say investment in regional transportation infrastructure, including roads and airports, has not been matched by equal investment in public health measures.
asserted
investment → say → measures
“The infrastructure that is going to give us the risks has blossomed,” said Dr. Amira Roess, a professor of global health & epidemiology at George Mason University who worked in Guinea during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
asserted
who → go → outbreak
“And then in comparison, the resources needed for public health response, for surveillance, for medical care, decreased, if anything.”
asserted
resources → need → care
She added: “Every outbreak has more of a risk of getting bigger and bigger, because our resources for public health surveillance, for preventing this, are just not adequate.”
asserted
resources → add → this
Here’s what to know about the outbreak:
5 countries have been affected, and 3 have active cases
asserted
3 → ’ → cases
Cases linked to Ebola have been reported in Congo, Uganda, Kenya, France and Nigeria.
asserted
Cases → link → Congo
The woman in Nigeria started developing symptoms on Oct. 7 after returning from Uganda.
asserted
woman → start → Uganda
Uganda, which declared itself Ebola-free in July after 20 cases, has denied that the woman contracted the virus there.
asserted
woman → declare → virus
And the World Health Organization said it has not been informed if the patient had traveled to Congo.
asserted
patient → say → Congo
France in June confirmed a doctor traveling back from Congo was infected, making it the first and only country outside Africa with a reported Ebola case.
asserted
it → confirm → case
The person recovered and was discharged on July 4, according to the WHO.
uncertain
person → recover → WHO
Outbreak is unfolding in challenging conditions and across porous borders
The rare Bundibugyo virus was first detected in May, after spreading undetected for months, according to the WHO.
uncertain
virus → unfold → WHO
In Congo, it is fueled by mass population movements, rebel violence, mistrust and poor working conditions for front line workers.
asserted
it → fuel → workers
The provinces where cases have been reported border Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Central African Republic.
asserted
cases → report → Uganda
Local populations cross borders often for work and personal reasons, with little to no oversight from the authorities.
asserted
populations → cross → authorities
Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, including blood and vomit, or through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces, such as bedding and clothing.
asserted
Ebola → spread → bedding
In parts of Congo, including North Kivu, health authorities say the disease is out of control, with most recorded deaths occurring in the community and contact tracing unable to keep pace with the virus’s spread.
asserted
tracing → include → spread
WHO and Africa CDC are calling for a coordinated response
The Africa CDC this week called an Ebola crisis meeting of African heads of state on Wednesday to strengthen the response to the outbreak.
asserted
CDC → call → outbreak
“We have the expertise and the capacity on this continent.
asserted
We → have → continent
We must mobilize them together to stop this outbreak and save lives,” Kaseya said.
asserted
Kaseya → mobilize → lives
The WHO said on Wednesday that it had advised all countries in the region to sustain “a high level of readiness” as the outbreak continues to evolve.
asserted
outbreak → say → readiness
The global health body provides guidance for travelers and transport authorities during Ebola outbreaks and advises against general travel or trade bans.
asserted
body → provide → bans
But its recommendations are not binding, resulting in a patchwork of national measures which vary from country to country.
asserted
which → bind → country
“Ebola does not wait.
asserted
Ebola → wait → ?
It follows movement, exploits gaps, and tests the strength of our health systems.
asserted
It → follow → systems
Today, the test is no longer confined to one place.
asserted
test → confine → place
It is a regional concern that demands regional vigilance and collective resolve,” Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, told reporters on Thursday.
asserted
Janabi → demand → Thursday
Millions in Ebola aid are unaccounted for
Africa’s CDC and Congolese officials earlier this month have raised concerns over $700 million in Ebola aid that is unaccounted for and called on organizations on the ground, which include U.N. agencies, international charities and local aid groups, to provide more information about their finances.
asserted
which → raise → finances
The revelations renew long-standing questions about transparency and accountability in Congo.
asserted
revelations → renew → Congo
Previous Ebola outbreaks were marked by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which experts said have contributed to the mistrust of local communities, complicating the efforts to halt the spread.
asserted
experts → mark → spread
The Aporia
