A senior humanitarian official is warning the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo poses massive challenges for aid organizations.
Kate White, a program manager for Médecins Sans Frontières, says she is extremely concerned about the inability to get resources to the country. The outbreak has resulted in more than 200 suspected deaths and more than 850 suspected cases.
White, flying from Manchester Airport as part of an international relief effort, says it reinforces the need for protective measures. There is no approved vaccine for this outbreak.
White, who has worked on previous Ebola epidemics, expressed concern that comprehensive medical countermeasures are still unavailable. She also worried about the impact of closed airspace on transporting workers and resources.
The outbreak involves a rare Ebola species, and the epicenter is in a conflict-affected area. White warns that because the outbreak went undetected for some time, the chains of transmission are unknown, making it harder to control.