South Sudan: Why Ebola outbreak in DRC is something to worry about

By Martin Ariel Majak, Alexandria, Egypt

Thursday, May 10, 2018 (PW) — Ebola has resurfaced and is back on the news making headlines again. The mention of the name Ebola alone reminds me of the grim and horrifying memories of the utter devastation and destruction it left on its trail in West Africa in 2014.
Ebola haemorrhagic fever or simply Ebola, is a viral infection which is highly contagious and very deadly. It’s symptoms are fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches.
The country it has struck this time is our neighbor, DRC, for a record ninth time, which must be a cause of concern to us given the likelihood of it being carried through the border into our country.
Several suspected cases have been reported already with as many as 21 deaths especially in the Northwestern part of DRC as per CNN reporting.
Fortunately though, DRC has had many Ebola outbreaks of such kind before and has, thankfully, managed to contain almost all of them without letting anything spiral out of control.
That being said, shouldn’t let us bank all our hopes on the possibility of it being controlled and stamped out in DRC while we sit on our backs doing nothing.
The Ministry of Health has to take preemptive measures such as starting to ring alarm bells about the dangers this deadly disease presents. The local communities on the border of DRC have to be sensitized of what to do when they spot some suspicious signs and symptoms on their relatives or neighbors. Also, bushmeat is another thing to keep off from.
With the dyfuctional health care system we have, I can’t imagine the thought of the human cost Ebola could exact upon us should it strike. And that’s what makes it more important to guard off our borders so as to not let it slip through even if it means closing off the border as a precautionary step.
Ebola on our soil is the last thing ordinary South Sudanese, who are struggling to make ends meet, need to battle aside from many other life challenges.
The writer is a student at the university of Alexandria – School of Medicine, Egypt.
He can be reached on twitter at @arielmajak93.

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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