Should we care about far away outbreaks of infectious disease?
Recent outbreaks of Andes hantavirus and Bundibugyo Ebola have raised concerns about infectious diseases. While the risk to Canadians is low, these events highlight the need for improved surveillance systems. A collective response to such outbreaks can benefit global health and safety.
- ▪Two rare disease outbreaks occurred within two weeks, involving Andes hantavirus and Bundibugyo Ebola.
- ▪The response to these outbreaks was slow, with significant delays in identifying and reporting cases.
- ▪The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after many deaths had already occurred.
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Open this photo in gallery:Red Cross workers walk in a formation as they disinfect Rwampara general hospital before handling the body of a person who died of Ebola, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 21.Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/ReutersShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountWithin two weeks, the world was hit by two rare disease outbreaks. Passengers on a cruise ship were sickened by Andes hantavirus, and residents of the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo and nearby Uganda threatened by Bundibugyo Ebola.The actions that followed – the ship turned away from a port, the frantic contact tracing of exposed passengers, health workers in protective suits, border restrictions, the slow response of public health officials, the endless news…
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