The Biden administration has affirmed the need to do everything possible to stop the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa before it turns into a widespread epidemic, adding that it will do everything in its power to provide the necessary leadership to halt the outbreak.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated in a press release today: "We cannot be complacent now, even while we are fighting the coronavirus; we must ensure the capacity and funding for global health security." Psaki emphasized that the Biden administration will do everything it can to provide U.S. leadership to stop these outbreaks, in addition to working with affected governments, the World Health Organization, the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and neighboring countries.
Psaki noted that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation in both Central and West Africa, and she mentioned his "connections with the families of those who have died." In a related context, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with ambassadors from Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to express Washington's readiness to work closely with the governments of affected countries and neighboring nations that may face the risk of the current outbreak.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the organization has sent a rapid response team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to assist authorities in combating the Ebola virus. According to the WHO chief, health authorities in the country have significant experience in responding to Ebola and preventing the transmission of the virus thanks to the substantial capacity built during the last outbreak.
He stated, "More than 70 contacts have been identified, and the WHO is supporting local and national authorities in tracking them and providing care as needed. So far, no additional cases have been identified, but it is possible that there may be more cases because the woman had contact with many people after she showed symptoms."
The World Health Organization declared the end of the 11th Ebola outbreak in the Central African country on November 18, nearly six months after the first cases were reported in the northern Equateur province. More than 50 people died. Last week, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported new cases of the Ebola virus, nearly three months after announcing the defeat of the 11th outbreak.
