Ebola: Why Political Divisions Could Undermine Containment Efforts

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Jean Kaseya, has warned that political divisions and isolation could undermine efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, urging African leaders to unite against the disease.

Kaseya gave the warning during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, monitored by PerSecondNews, on Thursday, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.

“My plea is clear to all leaders. We cannot play politics with this outbreak. We need to come together. We cannot point fingers. We need to come together,” he said.

He disclosed that he was engaging African heads of state on the outbreak, adding that some leaders had contacted him to seek guidance on how to stop its spread.

Kaseya emphasized that the Africa CDC was mobilising resources to support Nigeria’s response, including test kits and other assistance.

“We are mobilising all resources. We are just waiting for the national response plan to bring additional resources to Nigeria,” he noted.

Kaseya also disclosed that he was engaging authorities in Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to establish the movements and possible exposure history of the patient linked to Nigeria’s case.

According to him, the woman, whom he described as Ugandan-born, had travelled to Uganda and stayed there for several days before her husband joined her. They subsequently returned to Abuja on October 3.

“We need collaboration from this person, the lady. She has to disclose to the authorities. I need this information as Nigeria needs this information because we need also to support Uganda,” he stated.

Kaseya maintained that authorities needed to establish whether the woman had travelled to the DRC, left Kampala or had contact with anyone arriving from the DRC.

“The information is important to help health authorities determine possible exposure routes and strengthen cross-border efforts to contain the outbreak,”he added.

He commended the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for its efforts, describing its response as commendable.

The Africa CDC chief recalled Nigeria’s experience in containing Ebola in 2014, saying the country had an important role to play in the current response because of its position as West Africa’s largest country.

He urged African countries to coordinate their efforts and called for international support to contain the outbreak in Africa and prevent further spread to other continents.

PerSecondNews earlier reported that the Federal Government had pledged to strengthen Ebola containment measures following an emergency meeting involving Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate and Presidential Task Force Chairman Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo also directed airlines to place 46 contacts of the infected woman on a 21-day no-fly list and ordered enhanced Ebola surveillance at international airports.

Nigeria confirmed its first imported case of Ebola in more than a decade on October 20, after laboratory tests detected the Bundibugyo strain in a woman who arrived from Uganda.