While much of the world has moved on from Covid-19, a new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is exposing just how little has changed in the global approach to pandemic preparedness. This emergent crisis proves that the threat of another major infectious disease outbreak is neither distant nor hypothetical. It is already unfolding.

The World Health Organization recently declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after infections crossed borders and spread into urban areas. Officials have also warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be considerably larger than current figures suggest, particularly in conflict affected regions where access to healthcare services remains limited.

This new Ebola outbreak is especially concerning because the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating has no approved vaccine. International agencies are now struggling to put froth experimental vaccines and treatments........

© The Express Tribune