Since the Ebola outbreak was identified in Bunia, a city in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, there has been significant global concern. The outbreak has led to strict border controls, flight diversions reaching as far as the United States, and the quarantine of the Congolese World Cup team in Belgium.
In Bunia, the expected elements of an organized response, such as large medical tents and medics in full protective gear, are still not fully operational. The response effort is still in its early stages. Workers outside the main hospital on Saturday were busy constructing tents intended for isolation wards. These are crucial for triaging, isolating, and treating patients.
“The virus is far ahead of us,” said Ahmed Mahat, a manager with International Medical Corps involved in building two isolation wards. “And it’s spreading fast.”
The international community is trying to keep up. The outbreak, discovered around two months after it began, exposed a slow response system. In Bunia, which is the capital of the conflict-ridden Ituri province, efforts to control the outbreak are just beginning.
U.S. Eases Travel Restrictions for Iran’s World Cup Team 
Ukraine Strikes Key Targets in Crimea as Tensions Escalate 
Traditionalist Catholic Group Challenges Vatican with Bishop Consecrations 
World Cup Winners and Losers on Day 13 
Cancer Death Rates Drop: Challenges in Addressing Disparities 
World Cup Highlights and Key Matches