Experts: DRC Ebola Outbreak Does Not Pose Global Threat

專家稱剛果伊波拉疫情爆發不構成全球性威脅

Experts meeting in emergency session at the World Health Organization agree the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

出席世界衛生組織（World Health Organization，WHO；以下簡稱「世衛組織」）緊急會議的專家認為，在剛果民主共和國（Democratic Republic of Congo，DRC）東部爆發(outbreak)的伊波拉（Ebola）疫情不構成(constitute)國際關注的公衛危機。

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Experts: DRC Ebola Outbreak Does Not Pose Global Threat
VOA News
April 13, 2019 7:44 AM (source)

Experts: DRC Ebola Outbreak Does Not Pose Global Threat

專家稱剛果伊波拉疫情爆發不構成全球性威脅

April 13, 2019 7:44 AM

Lisa Schlein

Experts meeting in emergency session at the World Health Organization agree the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

The experts say the Ebola outbreak does not pose a global threat since the deadly virus has not crossed any international borders. But they warn this is no time to sit back as the epidemic continues to spread. It says efforts to contain the disease must be redoubled.

The assessment follows a warning issued Friday by top Red Cross official Emanuele Capobianco who expressed concern about a possible regional spread of the Ebola virus after a recent spike in cases in the DRC.

The recent spike in Ebola infections has seen the number of cases rise to 1206, including 764 deaths. The current upsurge has occurred in remaining epicenters of the disease in conflict-ridden North Kivu province, notably in Butembo, Katwa, Vuhove and Mandima.

The WHO says these areas have been off limits because of insecurity, seriously hindering the Ebola response. Because of the lack of access, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergency Program, Mike Ryan, says the WHO has fallen behind in starting vaccination rings.

"Vaccination is proving to be a highly effective way of stopping this virus. But if we cannot vaccinate people, we cannot protect them. We can also not get people out to Ebola treatment units. If someone stays in the community with Ebola and begins to have diarrhea or bleeding, they will infect their families. So, getting an Ebola patient to safe and effective treatment center is also very important," Ryan said.

In the last few days, Ryan says aid workers have been able to get back into these Ebola-affected communities. He says they have been able to begin vaccinations and implement other crucial Ebola-control measures.

The current Ebola outbreak is the worst ever in DRC and the second largest recorded after the 2014 epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people.

The WHO expert committee recommends scaling up community dialogue and participation of traditional healers to lessen community mistrust and gain its acceptance.

Because of the high risk of regional spread, the committee advises neighboring countries to accelerate current preparedness and surveillance efforts.

The WHO is appealing to the international community to support its Ebola-control operation. It says it desperately needs 8 million to keep the operation running until July. It warns it will not be able to end the epidemic if it does not have the money to implement essential programs.

出席世界衛生組織（World Health Organization，WHO；以下簡稱「世衛組織」）緊急會議的專家認為，在剛果民主共和國（Democratic Republic of Congo，DRC）東部爆發(outbreak)的伊波拉（Ebola）疫情不構成(constitute)國際關注的公衛危機。

由於致命病毒(virus)尚未越過任何國際邊界，因此專家說這次的伊波拉疫情並不會造成全球性的威脅(pose a global threat)。不過，他們警告，在這波傳染病(epidemic)持續擴散的情況下，已無時間再袖手旁觀(no time to sit back)，並表示必須努力加強(redouble)控制(contain)疫情。

近來剛果的個案飆升(spike)後，紅十字會（Red Cross）高層官員埃馬努埃萊‧卡波比安科（Emanuele Capobianco）對伊波拉病毒可能蔓延的區域表達關切，並隨後在週五（編按：2019 年 4 月 12 日）發出警告，同時針對疫情的控制提出評估(assessment)。

伊波拉迄今的傳染(infection)個案已高達 1206 件之多，包含 764 起死亡病例。近來竄升(upsurge)的病例多發生於先前的疫情爆發點(epicenter)，也就是衝突多發的(conflict-ridden)北基伍（North Kivu）省，尤其(notably)在布藤博（Butembo）、卡圖瓦（Katwa）、伍霍夫（Vuhove）和曼迪馬（Mandima）一帶。

世衛組織表示，這些地區因情勢不穩(insecurity)而禁止進入(off limits)，嚴重阻礙(hinder)對伊波拉病毒的防治。由於不得其門而入，世衛組織衛生緊急方案（WHO Health Emergency Program）的執行長麥克‧萊恩（Mike Ryan）指出，該組織在啟動疫苗接種(vaccination)上已落後進度。

「事實證明，疫苗接種用來對抗這種病毒非常有效。但如果我們無法替人們接種疫苗(vaccinate)，就無法保護他們，也無法將他們帶往伊波拉醫治小組（Ebola treatment unit，ETU）接受治療。如果有伊波拉患者留在社區裡並開始出現下痢(diarrhea)或出血症狀，他們就會傳染(infect)給家人。因此，讓伊波拉患者前往安全且有效的治療中心也是非常重要的。」萊恩說道。

萊恩表示，過去這幾天以來，援助(aid)人員已能重回這些受伊波拉影響的社區。他指出，這些人員已經可以開始進行預防接種並執行(implement)其他重要的伊波拉防治措施(measure)。

目前的伊波拉疫情是剛果有史以來最為嚴重的一次，其程度僅次於 2014 年的西非（West Africa）疫情。當年西非疫情造成超過 1 萬 1000 人喪命。

世衛組織專家委員會建議加強(scale up)與社區群眾的溝通以及傳統治療師的參與，藉此降低(lessen)居民的疑慮(mistrust)並增加民眾的接受度(acceptance)。

基於區域傳播的高風險，該委員會建議鄰近國家加速(accelerate)採取防備(preparedness)與監控(surveillance)措施。

世衛組織呼籲(appeal)國際社群支持伊波拉防治作業(operation)，並表示急需 1 億 4800 萬美元以確保防治工作能持續到 7 月（編按：2019 年），並強調如果沒有資金用以實施重要的防治方案，恐怕將無法終止疫情的擴散。

［編按：伊波拉疫情相關報導請參考世衛組織網站資訊：https://www.who.int/ebola/en/。〕