The chief of the World Health Organization expressed new fears about a quickly spreading Ebola outbreak, saying the virus is outpacing the ability of current response attempts to control it.
Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a global health briefing that the rate of spread in afflicted areas is outpacing current containment efforts including contact tracing, isolation and treatment capacity.
The WHO says numerous hotspots have experienced a rapid surge in new infections, imposing huge pressure on already frail healthcare systems. The agency said logistical problems, a lack of medical infrastructure and community resistance in some places have also created significant obstacles to containing the spread of the virus.
Health experts cautioned that without a rapid scaling up of financing, medical supplies and skilled staff, the outbreak might become a bigger regional problem. WHO is working with local authorities and international partners to send in more emergency teams and broaden immunization efforts.
Ebola is a deadly and highly contagious illness that is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. Early response is key to averting broad transmission as seen in previous epidemics.
The WHO leader urged the international community to provide immediate assistance to the response efforts, saying delays in action could mean a massive loss of life and increased destabilization of impacted areas.
Experts say reinforcing surveillance systems, enhancing community engagement and ensuring timely access to treatment remain vital to limiting the outbreak before it spirals out of control.
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