Africa CDC Chief Jean Kaseya Appeals For Global Support To End Ebola Outbreak –
Africa CDC Director-General Calls for Increased International Support Amid Ebola Outbreak
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, has urged the international community to bolster support in response to an ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has resulted in over 10,000 confirmed cases and 5,000 fatalities.
Dr. Kaseya, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a resident of Canada since 2013, revealed that the outbreak has kept him from seeing his family for several months. In a post on social media platform X, he emphasized the need for Canada and other international partners to intensify efforts to curb the outbreak at its source, noting that the risk level in Canada remains low.
“My ask is simple: help us take it to zero by stopping Ebola where it is today,” Kaseya stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
He acknowledged Canada’s significant contributions to Africa’s response to the Ebola crisis, including initial funding for the Africa CDC, support for vaccine trials, and scientific collaboration with Congolese researchers working on virus sequencing. Kaseya emphasized the value of international partnerships and scientific cooperation in addressing infectious disease outbreaks.
While urging the public to remain calm, Kaseya advised against underestimating the seriousness of the outbreak. “No fear. No panic. But take it seriously,” he declared. He also encouraged individuals to educate themselves about the outbreak and to actively support ongoing response efforts, expressing gratitude to Lauren Pelley and CBC News for drawing attention to the critical situation.
This appeal coincides with increased initiatives from African and international health authorities aimed at enhancing surveillance, research, vaccination preparedness, and cross-border cooperation to contain Ebola and prevent further transmission.
