Ebola virus: Tanzania failing to provide details, WHO says
22 September 2019
The World Health Organization (WHO) has rebuked Tanzania for failing to provide information about possible Ebola virus infections. The WHO said it had learned of one suspected fatal case in Dar es Salaam and two others but, despite repeated requests, was given no information. Tanzania has said it has no suspected or confirmed cases. The latest outbreak has killed more than 2,000 in eastern DR Congo, with Uganda battling to stop any spread. An epidemic that ravaged parts of West Africa from 2014 to 2016 killed more than 11,000 people. A statement on Saturday said that on 10 September the organisation had learned of a suspected infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's most populous city, in what would be the country's first Ebola case. It said the patient had been to Uganda, shown symptoms of Ebola in August, tested positive and died on 8 September. It said that the woman's contacts had been quarantined. The WHO said it had unofficial reports of two other possible cases. It said: "Despite several requests, WHO did not receive further details of any of these cases from Tanzanian authorities." It added: "The limited available official information from Tanzanian authorities represents a challenge for assessing the risk posed by this event." On 14 September, Tanzania said there were no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in the country. However, it did not directly address the case of the woman mentioned by the WHO and provided no further information. Last week, US Health Secretary Alex Azar criticised Tanzania for its failure to share information on possible cases. Tanzania is heavily reliant on tourism, which could be affected by confirmed cases. It began in the eastern DR Congo in August last year and is the biggest of 10 Ebola outbreaks to hit the country since 1976, when the virus was first discovered. In July, the WHO declared the Ebola crisis in the country a "public health emergency of international concern". There have been more than 3,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. Other nations are on high alert. Four people have died after being diagnosed with the virus in Uganda, which has maintained largely successful screening centres along its border. The disease can spread rapidly and similarly rapid measures are needed to control it, including hand-washing regimes and quarantines. - Ebola is a virus that initially causes sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat - It progresses to vomiting, diarrhoea and both internal and external bleeding - People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola - Patients tend to die from dehydration and multiple organ failure
A statement on Saturday said that on 10 September the organisation had learned of a suspected infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's most populous city, in what would be the country's first Ebola case. It said the patient had been to Uganda, shown symptoms of Ebola in August, tested positive and died on 8 September. It said that the woman's contacts had been quarantined. The WHO said it had unofficial reports of two other possible cases. It said: "Despite several requests, WHO did not receive further details of any of these cases from Tanzanian authorities." It added: "The limited available official information from Tanzanian authorities represents a challenge for assessing the risk posed by this event."
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What is the WHO complaining about?
On 14 September, Tanzania said there were no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in the country. However, it did not directly address the case of the woman mentioned by the WHO and provided no further information. Last week, US Health Secretary Alex Azar criticised Tanzania for its failure to share information on possible cases. Tanzania is heavily reliant on tourism, which could be affected by confirmed cases.
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What has Tanzania said in response?
It began in the eastern DR Congo in August last year and is the biggest of 10 Ebola outbreaks to hit the country since 1976, when the virus was first discovered. In July, the WHO declared the Ebola crisis in the country a "public health emergency of international concern". There have been more than 3,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. Other nations are on high alert. Four people have died after being diagnosed with the virus in Uganda, which has maintained largely successful screening centres along its border. The disease can spread rapidly and similarly rapid measures are needed to control it, including hand-washing regimes and quarantines.
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What is the latest on the outbreak?