Kinshasa: World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has arrived in Kinshasa to lead efforts in tackling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has highlighted significant challenges such as conflict, population displacement, and public distrust, which are hindering disease control measures.
According to Thai News Agency, the Director-General labeled the outbreak as extremely complex and called for a ceasefire to alleviate the difficulties faced by healthcare workers due to unrest and food shortages. He emphasized the urgent need for more funding, noting that only about one-third of the required amount has been received. Ghebreyesus stressed that without adequate medical personnel, assisting patients would be nearly impossible.
In terms of future actions, Ghebreyesus plans to visit Bunia in northern Japan to assess the situation more closely. The WHO is collaborating with partners to expedite clinical trials for vaccines and treatments, a process expected to take several months. Experimental treatments under consideration include Regeneron's maftivimab and Gilead's rimdesivir. Prototype vaccines will require several more months before testing can commence.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the World Health Organization has not recommended a travel ban, citing limited effectiveness in controlling the disease's spread.