Tuesday, 21/05/2019 17:13 (GMT+7)
General Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on May 20th urged different political factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to unite in the battle against Ebola, warning that the risk of spread "remains very high".
Ebola outbreak in Congo (Photo: AP)
"Ebola does not take sides. It is the enemy of everybody," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the opening of the organisation's annual assembly in Geneva.
Mr. Ghebreyesus warned that ongoing violence is disrupting the WHO operation, adding that the epidemic risks becoming more widespread, more expensive and more aggressive.
He urged WHO member states to endorse the organisation's "ambitious budget", stressing the "moral duty to respond urgently and effectively to outbreaks and other emergencies", and urging more spending on preventive measures.
Earlier, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC is “worsening” and has killed more than 1,000 people.
The outbreak is the second-deadliest and second-largest in history, topped only by one in West Africa in 2014, when the disease killed more than 11,000 people, according to the WHO.
The central African country declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August, centred in the city of Beni in North Kivu province, before the virus spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.
The WHO had initially voiced hope it would be able to contain the outbreak, thanks in part to a new vaccine./.
Compiled by BTA