While countries across the world are battling with the coronavirus pandemic, some African countries, are also battling the outbreaks of deadlier hemorrhagic fever viruses: Lassa virus and Ebola virus.
With the global pandemic draining resources and attention, African countries are facing more challenges controlling outbreaks of these diseases that have been ravaging Africa countries for over 40 years.
This year, Nigeria recorded the highest Lassa fever outbreak in its history with an over 35% increase in cases from the previous year. Along with other West African countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, Nigeria is again approaching another seasonal outbreak starting from December. Meanwhile, last month, the WHO raised an alarm that the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the west of the DR Congo is underfunded and facing logistic challenges.
*The views of the above article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Africa Speaks 4 Africa or its editorial team.