President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, addressed virtually the High-Level Meeting of African Ministers of Health on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced an initial South African contribution of $5 million to support the continental response to the deadly Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak currently affecting parts of Central and East Africa.
Addressing a High-Level Meeting of African Ministers of Health convened by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday, Ramaphosa warned that the outbreak posed a serious regional threat due to porous borders, population movement, insecurity and active trade routes in affected areas.
The outbreak has primarily affected the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with fears of wider spread to neighbouring countries.
“We have already lost more than 200 people,” Ramaphosa said, adding that Africa CDC had described the crisis as the second-largest Ebola outbreak since the 2014 West African epidemic.
