Leaders of the G7 nations have called for a strong and coordinated international response to the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, warning that the disease poses a significant global health threat.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, June 16 and backed by Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea, the leaders expressed solidarity with affected countries and communities, lamenting the loss of lives caused by the outbreak.
The leaders noted that the outbreak is concentrated in a remote, conflict-affected area of eastern DRC, complicating containment efforts and the delivery of medical assistance. They also highlighted concerns that existing vaccines, diagnostic tools and treatments are not fully effective against the strain involved.
The G7 said preventing further transmission of the virus within the region and beyond must be the immediate priority. To achieve this, the group pledged to mobilize international support for the development and deployment of targeted vaccines, diagnostics and treatments in the coming months. The statement further urged countries outside the G7 to contribute resources to tackle what it described as a global threat, while reaffirming a commitment to closely monitor the situation to prevent cross-border spread.
The leaders also warned that ongoing conflict in eastern DRC is undermining public health interventions and called on all parties to implement existing peace agreements, including the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity and the Doha Framework.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), ten countries—including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zambia—are considered at risk of a potential Ebola outbreak.