South Africa joins fight to contain Ebola outbreak in Central Africa
Efforts are being scaled up urgently to contain Ebola and prevent wider spread after a global health emergency declaration.
South Africa has pledged R41.2m towards Africa’s response to the growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as scientists at Stellenbosch University join urgent efforts to contain the deadly virus.
According to The Witness, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Sunday (May 17) after cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola were confirmed in the DRC’s Ituri province and in Kampala, Uganda.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention welcomed South Africa’s contribution to the Africa Epidemics Fund, describing it as a major show of continental solidarity amid fears of wider cross-border transmission.
“Africa CDC expresses its sincere appreciation to the people and government of South Africa, and to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the African Union champion on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, for this timely demonstration of leadership, solidarity and commitment to Africa’s collective health security,” the body said.
The funding will support surveillance, laboratory systems, infection prevention, rapid response deployment and cross-border preparedness in affected regions.
Stellenbosch University scientists mobilise
At the same time, scientists from Stellenbosch University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences have rapidly mobilised to support international efforts to understand and contain the outbreak.
Professor Jean B. Nachega, the director of the university’s biomedical research institute, is serving on the Africa CDC emergency consultative group advising on the continental response.
“This outbreak requires an urgent and highly co-ordinated response focused on strengthening surveillance, expanding diagnostic capacity closer to affected communities, protecting healthcare workers, and accelerating research on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines,” Nachega said.
“Everything possible must be done to contain the outbreak early and prevent further regional, continental and global spread.”
Researchers at the institute are collaborating on epidemiological investigations, genomic surveillance and monitoring the virus’s evolution.
The team is also helping mobilise financial resources to support research into diagnostics, treatments and vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific therapies.
Concerns over detection challenges
The outbreak has raised concern among health experts because some commonly used rapid diagnostic platforms may not reliably detect the Bundibugyo strain, potentially delaying isolation and contact tracing efforts.
Scientists warned that although the strain generally has a lower fatality rate than the more common Zaire Ebola strain, mortality can still reach 40% to 50% in fragile healthcare systems.
The Africa CDC has called on African Union member states, donors and the private sector to follow South Africa’s example and contribute towards the emergency response.
“The current outbreak demands urgent, co-ordinated and adequately financed action to contain transmission, save lives and prevent wider regional escalation,” the body said.
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