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The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, has urged African countries to invest more of their own resources in tackling Ebola outbreaks rather than relying on foreign support.
His warning comes as the current Ebola outbreak has killed more than 200 people and infected nearly 900 others. Health officials believe the actual number of cases is higher because the outbreak was detected weeks after it began.
Speaking at Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Kaseya said the outbreak highlights the need for Africa to develop its own vaccines and medicines. “If this outbreak was in Europe or the US, they would already develop vaccines and medicine. We need to take care of ourselves. It is time for us to think strongly about manufacturing medicines and vaccines to respond to our needs,” Kaseya said.
The current outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
Kaseya noted that although efforts are ongoing to accelerate vaccine and diagnostic development, he is not confident that a vaccine will be ready before the end of the year.
He also warned that the worst phase of the outbreak may still be ahead, as health authorities are struggling to trace the contacts of infected people.
According to him, officials have not yet identified the first person infected in the outbreak and still need to track more than 36,000 people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The Africa CDC chief said the situation should serve as a wake-up call for African nations to strengthen their healthcare systems and invest in local medical research and production.
