The head of a medical charity that is at the forefront of dealing with the Ebola outbreak in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has called for a “change of gear” in the approach.
A statement from Joanne Liu, the international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), came after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola crisis a “public health emergency of international concern”.
⚡ #DRC #Ebola Outbreak Update:
Statement by @JoanneLiu_MSF, International President of @MSF, on the declaration of Ebola as a public health emergency of international concern. ⬇ pic.twitter.com/cYHx1Ei3Zn
— MSF International (@MSF) July 17, 2019
“The signs are clear, people are still dying in the communities, health workers are still infected, and transmission is still going on,” Dr Liu said.
“The epidemic is not under control.”
Contact tracing does not appear to be working, she added.
MSF is calling for “better access to vaccination for the population” over all.
At the moment, vaccines area available for front-line health workers, people who have been in contact with Ebola patients and others who may be in danger. BBC News
