With Ebola outbreak waning, a focus on early detection

As cases of Ebola virus disease dwindled to near zero in West Africa, the IFRC renewed its call for increased investment in early warning and response mechanisms. “Unfortunately, the threat has not passed and our focus now must be on strengthening capacity [in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone] to effectively identify and respond to future outbreaks,” said Alasan Senghore, the IFRC’s regional director for Africa. “Ebola illustrated the weakness of health systems in this region. Let’s not wait for another reminder.”