By MONICA MAYUNI KAYOMBO,Zambia,Lusaka,
THE world attention has turned once again to Central Africa after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), raising fears of a wider regional and global health threat.
In a statement released yesterday by the Co-Chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response ( IPPPR) , Helen Clark has expressed deep concern over the escalating outbreak affecting communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) and neighboring Uganda.
The declaration by the World Health Organization ( WHO) comes after dozens of people reportedly died in Ituri Province in eastern DRC, while cases linked to cross-border transmission were also detected in Uganda.
Health experts say the outbreak is especially alarming because it involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola which is a rare form of the virus for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments. The absence of proven medical countermeasures has intensified concerns among global health authorities and humanitarian organizations.
Ms Clark has praised WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for acting swiftly in declaring the emergency, even before convening a formal Emergency Committee. According to the panel, the move reflected the seriousness of the outbreak and the urgent need for international action.
“Our thoughts are with all affected communities bearing the heaviest burden of this outbreak, and with the health workers on the front lines,” the statement said, emphasizing the need for adequate protective equipment, medical support, and safety protocols for frontline responders.
The Independent Panel has since called for a rapid and united global response, urging countries and international partners to mobilize resources, expertise, laboratory testing capacity, and cross-border coordination to contain the spread of the virus before the situation worsens.
The statement has also stressed the importance of deploying diagnostic capacity specifically designed to identify the Bundibugyo strain in affected regions, where health systems are already under pressure.
The outbreak has revived memories of previous Ebola crises that exposed weaknesses in global preparedness and response systems. Public health specialists warn that delayed action, limited surveillance, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure can allow localized outbreaks to spread quickly across borders.
WHO later updated its information to confirm that a suspected Ebola case in Kinshasa had tested negative, easing concerns of further spread into the densely populated capital of the DRC.
The Independent Panel said it would continue monitoring developments closely as the international community responds to the emergency.
