Robert Redfield, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued a stern warning: Ebola could be the source of the world’s next pandemic. He believes that the Ebola epidemic broke out in Africa It would expand to three more countries and turn into a “very serious epidemic.”
Redfield recently said in an interview with NewsNation that he believes it is “inevitable” that Ebola will eventually spread through the air, a development he warned could significantly increase the potential for the virus to cause a pandemic.
“I suspect this is going to be a very serious epidemic that could leak into Tanzania, southern Sudan, maybe even into Rwanda,” Redfield said.
Read more: Ebola fears surge in Congo as rare virus spreads rapidly
Redfield warned of possible “disruption.”
according to CDCLocal health officials in both countries reported 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed cases and approximately 134 suspected deaths resulting from the outbreak.
Currently, Congo and Uganda account for the majority of Ebola cases.
“I suspect this is going to be a very serious epidemic that could leak into Tanzania, southern Sudan, maybe even into Rwanda,” Redfield said.
“So, it’s going to be very disruptive,” he added.
Redfield called the outbreak a “significant international public health concern.” He said: “The current epidemic is indeed a serious epidemic that has caused significant public health concern to the international community, and part of the reason why it has not been recognized quickly is what you said. I’m not sure why.”
He further went on to talk about Ebola outbreaks during his tenure, saying: “Typically, when we have Ebola outbreaks, and there were three Ebola outbreaks when I was CDC director, all of them were in the Democratic Republic of Congo, usually when we have five to ten cases, we identify them, you know, at the most.”
He emphasized, “This was indeed discovered after more than 100 cases.”
Redfield further warned, “As you said, there are now over 500 cases. There have been nearly 150 deaths, and it’s changing very rapidly.”
Read more: New Ebola outbreak could be worst in decade
Ebola epidemic spreads rapidly
Ebola is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people and has historically caused severe but relatively controllable outbreaks, mostly in parts of Africa.
According to the World Health Organization, Ebola virus disease has a mortality rate of 25% to 90%, depending on the outbreak and access to health care
The CDC said the May outbreak was the region’s 17th Ebola outbreak in the past 50 years, with the most recent ending in December.
According to reports, an American employee contracted the virus while working in Congo and was sent to Germany for treatment.
In light of the rapid spread of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will conduct “enhanced public health screening” of all citizens traveling to the United States and legal permanent residents who have visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival, according to a travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department on Thursday.
