Announcement

**Pathfinder** · August 24, 2021, 03:02 PM

Translation Google

Ebola virus: What means does Burkina have to respond to a possible epidemic?

Home > News > RECORDS > Ebola • LEFASO.NET • Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 17h53min

Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the recent past has brought Africa to its knees. This disease that we thought to have controlled has resurfaced, already causing victims on the side of the Ivory Coast. 72 hours after announcing a suspected case of hemorrhagic fever, the Burkinabe Ministry of Health has still not confirmed or denied. Do we have the means to respond to a possible Ebola epidemic in Burkina?

The 2021 Ebola haemorrhagic fever epidemic started in Forest Guinea. This disease, which causes significant bleeding and organ failure that can lead to death, appears to continue to grow in Africa. Sunday evening, the Burkinabè Ministry of Health announced, through a press release, a "suspected" case of hemorrhagic fever at the Bogodogo University Hospital Center in Ouagadougou .

It is, in fact, a 22-year-old patient from Côte d'Ivoire. A situation that creates panic among the population already impacted by the coronavirus disease. With the rainy season, we fear a multiplication of cases. In view of the national and sub-regional epidemiological context, one is entitled to question whether the country has an effective intervention plan to deal with a possible Ebola epidemic.

We have tried to get information on this major concern from the Department of Health. The reply we received: In view of the rumor about the alleged suspect case, samples were taken and the authorities await the results before any communication. So we’re asking the media to settle for the press release for now.”

The shortcomings observed in 2014

Never mind. As part of the development of the Preparedness and Response Plan for a possible Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in 2014, eight priority issues were identified. These include insufficient surveillance of the disease. At this level, it emerges from the inadequacies of competence of the actors at all levels (including the community level), an insufficiency of resources but also a weak collaboration between the various ministerial departments concerned.

The shortcomings are also at the level of preventive measures against the disease and communication capacities in terms of epidemic management. In addition to all this, the analysis of the situation showed that not all health structures have operational isolation sites for cases of Ebola virus disease. The finding is even more alarming.

“Not all EVD care centers are functional. In addition, the measures to guarantee the continuity of the functioning of health services in the event of an epidemic are insufficient. There are no suitable means of transport for transporting potentially contagious patients ”, reads the Preparedness and Response Plan for a possible outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD).

He also stresses that national laboratories are neither accredited nor certified to international standards for the diagnosis of EVD. Also, the only research laboratory at the MURAZ Center with an intermediate security level is experiencing waterproofing and operating difficulties.

Hopefully things have changed, seven years later. But in the meantime, the Burkinabè need to be located on the suspected case of hemorrhagic fever at the Bogodogo University Hospital Center.

Aïssata Laure G. Sidibé
Lefaso.net

Virus Ebola : De quels moyens dispose le Burkina pour riposter à une éventuelle épidémie ? - leFaso.net

https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article107085

La fièvre hémorragique à virus Ebola, dans un passé récent, a mis l'Afrique à genoux. Cette maladie qu'on pensait avoir maîtrisé a refait surface faisant (...)

Announcement

Burkina Faso - Suspected case of Ebola in Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso - Suspected case of Ebola in Ouagadougou

Comment