The vaccine is expected to arrive in Guinea this weekend.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DAKAR – The World Health Organization (WHO) will send 11 thousand Ebola vaccine to Guinea. This is to deal with the spread of the plague.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said vaccine has been prepared in Geneva, Switzerland, and is expected to arrive in Guinea this weekend. “30 vaccination experts have been deployed locally and are ready to be deployed as soon as the vaccine arrives in the country,” he said on Thursday (18/2).
The WHO has summoned six African countries for alert. Because apart from Guinea, Ebola is also reported in Congo. “Sub-territories in high alert and care in neighboring countries are underway,” Moeti said.
“Our collective and swift action is essential to prevent the uncontrolled spread of Ebola amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has pushed health workers and health facilities to a tipping point,” said Moeti.
According to the WHO, as of Thursday, Guinea has recorded three cases of Ebola and one death. The country has declared Ebola an epidemic.
Guinean Health Minister Remy Lamah admitted that he was quite confident his country could handle the re-emergence of the Ebola outbreak. Apart from the facilities, the medical personnel there are trained and experienced in dealing with the disease.
Lamah said that in 2013, Guinea took months to understand that they were facing an Ebola epidemic. “While this time, in less than four days, we can do the analysis and get the results. Our medical team is well trained and experienced. We have a way to immediately treat this disease,” Lamah told Reuters on Monday (15/2).
However, he did not deny that the worry remained when he recalled the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic five years ago. “We don’t want to revive such a situation,” he said.
Lamah explained that currently Guinea is tracking people who could potentially come into contact with Ebola patients. The government will send vaccines to affected areas as soon as possible.
sumber: AP
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