In an announcement launched on Saturday, the Cote d’Ivoire nation workplace of the WHO stated that the virus was present in samples collected from a affected person who was hospitalized within the business capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea.
Preliminary investigations discovered that the affected person had travelled to Cote d’Ivoire by highway and arrived in Abidjan on 12 August. The affected person was admitted to hospital after experiencing a fever and is at the moment receiving therapy.
‘Immense concern’
Earlier this yr, Guinea skilled a four-month lengthy Ebola outbreak, which was declared over on the 19 June 2021. The WHO stated that there’s at the moment no indication that the present case in Cote d’Ivoire is linked to the Guinea outbreak, however added that additional investigation will establish the pressure, and decide if there’s a connection between the 2 outbreaks.
This yr Ebola outbreaks have been declared within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea, however it’s the first time an outbreak has occurred in a big capital metropolis akin to Abidjan because the 2014–2016 West Ebola outbreak.
“It’s of immense concern that this outbreak has been declared in Abidjan, a metropolis of greater than 4 million folks,” stated Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Well being Group (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “Nevertheless, a lot of the world’s experience in tackling Ebola is right here on the continent and Cote d’Ivoire can faucet into this expertise and convey the response to full velocity. The nation is likely one of the six that WHO has supported not too long ago to beef up their Ebola readiness and this fast prognosis reveals preparedness is paying off.”
5,000 Ebola vaccine doses on their means
WHO helps to coordinate cross-border Ebola response actions, and 5000 Ebola vaccines doses which the group helped safe to combat the outbreak in Guinea at the moment are being transferred to Cote d’Ivoire, following an settlement between the ministries of well being of Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea. Folks at excessive danger, together with well being staff, first responders and contacts of confirmed instances, shall be prioritised for vaccination.
Ebola is a extreme, usually deadly sickness affecting people and different primates. Fatality charges have diversified from 25% to 90% in previous outbreaks; there may be now efficient therapy obtainable and if sufferers obtain therapy early, in addition to supportive care, their possibilities of survival enhance considerably.
Cote d’Ivoire declared the outbreak in keeping with Worldwide Well being Laws and WHO doesn’t advise any journey restrictions to and from the nation.
