In an interview with CNBC-TV18, the former chief scientist of the World Health Organization remarked that the current outbreak serves as a stark reminder that “viruses do not recognize national borders” and urged for a collective response to perilous zoonotic diseases.
“We require global solidarity and cooperation to tackle these challenges,” Swaminathan stated. “In this interconnected world, we are all reliant on one another. Viruses do not honor national borders, so we must view humanity as a unified entity.”
Her remarks follow the WHO’s announcement that Ebola has resulted in almost 140 deaths, with over 600 suspected cases recorded to date. Officials have cautioned that these figures may increase, as the outbreak went undetected for an extended period.
The WHO emergency committee has labeled the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, which has approved vaccines and treatments, the Bundibugyo strain currently lacks any approved vaccine or therapeutic options.
Swaminathan noted that the outbreak is particularly alarming because existing diagnostic tools tailored for the Zaire strain initially failed to identify the virus.
“This Ebola outbreak is concerning for several reasons. The first is that it was identified rather late,” she explained, adding that rapid molecular testing methods created for the Zaire strain “did not function” for this outbreak.
She also highlighted the fragile healthcare infrastructure in the impacted regions, including conflict-affected areas in Congo and Uganda, as a significant obstacle in containing the spread.
“As is often the case, the outbreak is situated in a region plagued by numerous challenges, including conflict, high population movement, especially across borders, and a severely lacking health system,” she remarked.
Swaminathan mentioned that the absence of vaccines and treatments for this strain has left authorities with limited measures such as contact tracing, isolating those infected, and enhancing supportive care.
The WHO has refrained from declaring the outbreak a pandemic emergency, stating that while the global risk remains low, the local risk is considerable. The recent emergency declaration marked the first instance of a WHO chief invoking such powers without prior consultation with experts.
Although the risk of widespread international transmission remains limited, Swaminathan warned that global air travel and population movement mean no country can afford to overlook the outbreak.
“The next pathogen could emerge anywhere in the world and could be entirely different,” she cautioned.
She also brought attention to the detrimental effects of funding cuts on outbreak response initiatives, pointing out that reductions in USAID support have undermined healthcare infrastructure and staffing in the affected areas.
Swaminathan stated that India could play a crucial role in the global response by providing medical supplies, protective equipment, and emergency healthcare infrastructure.
“India is among the largest producers of medical goods and devices,” she stated. “We could offer to supply gloves, gowns, personal protective equipment, hospital items, IV fluids, and ICU equipment.”
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She added that India’s research institutions, manufacturing capabilities, and healthcare workforce could significantly contribute to the development of diagnostics and future medical responses for emerging infectious diseases.
The last significant Ebola outbreak, occurring between 2014 and 2016, infected over 28,000 individuals and was the most lethal since the virus was first recognized in 1976. Symptoms typically appear suddenly, beginning with fever, headache, and fatigue, before advancing to vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe instances, internal bleeding, organ failure, and death.
