14 DAY TRIAL // Just yesterday, the World Health Organization went public with the news that, according to its estimates, about $490 million (€371.4 million) was needed to put a leash on the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
This outbreak debuted back in December 2013, in Guinea. Cases of people infected with this virus have since been reported in several other countries, and things seem to be going from bad to worse. Thus, the disease has until now killed over 1,500 individuals.
What's more, the World Health Organization says that, even if everybody turns their pockets inside out and the requested $490 million is made available to fight this virus, some 20,000 people will still be infected before the outbreak is contained.
Specialists with the Organization estimate that, were the aforementioned funds to be provided, the epidemic could be contained in about six to nine months. 750 foreign health care workers and 12,000 folks from the affected regions would have to work together to meet this goal.
In order to contain the outbreak, efforts must be made to track the spread of the disease and isolate affected regions. Cases in previously unaffected areas must be identified as soon as possible, and these areas must too be put in isolation. This can be achieved by closely monitoring public health.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization said that this Ebola outbreak was the largest of its kind to have ever been reported on a global scale. What's more, the epidemic was labeled an “extraordinary event,” and argued to be a threat to public health.
The severity of the outbreak explains why it is that, despite initially requesting $71 million (€53.81 million) to fight Ebola, the Organization is now asking for a whopping $490 million, Nature informs. The good news is that, by the looks of it, these funds might soon be made available.
Thus, information shared with the public says that the World Bank and the African Development Bank have until now pledged $100 million (€75.79 million) and $210 million (€159.17 million), respectively. Hence, the World Health Organization is confident that it will eventually get the money it needs to fight this outbreak.
The bad news is that, even if this epidemic is contained over the course of the following few months, this does not mean that the fight against the Ebola virus is done with. On the contrary, experts say that investments will have to be made in helping health care systems in West Africa get back on their feet. “This is putting out the fire, not building the firehouse,” specialist Bruce Aylward said in a statement.