The foreign ministry is supporting the World Health Organization in preventing the further spread of the Ebola virus in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Foreign minister Urmas Paet said that it is a very rapidly spreading virus, which needs to be stopped quickly. “We must prevent a major epidemic, which according to the worst case scenario could begin to massively spread in Guinea and to neighbouring countries,” he added.
The fast-spreading and fatal Ebola virus was discovered in late March in south-eastern Guinea. As of April 4, there were 143 diagnosed cases of Ebola virus based on clinical signs, of which a total of 54 were laboratory-confirmed, as well as 86 deaths. WHO has also warned of outbreaks in countries bordering Guinea. Sierra Leone and Liberia have also reported cases of illness and deaths, with a total of 14 sick and 11 dead as of April 1.
WHO’s goal is to prevent further outbreaks of the virus in Guinea and across its borders, to create a functioning monitoring and warning system and an active follow-up system for possible new cases, and to reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections. WHO is also planning to hold government and medical staff training and to take precautionary measures in all health care facilities in high-risk areas, as well as in other parts of the country. It also supports the procurement of laboratory equipment for the analysis of Ebola cases.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating € 10 000 to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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