{"id":92066,"date":"2018-05-18T11:18:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T11:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=688784b14933997e8531beda580feadd"},"modified":"2018-05-18T11:18:00","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T11:18:00","slug":"press-release-ebola-outbreak-uk-public-health-rapid-support-team-deploys-to-drc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=92066","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Ebola outbreak: UK Public Health Rapid Support Team deploys to DRC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 8 May 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC<\/abbr>) Government declared a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the country\u2019s ninth outbreak. The latest situation report can be found on the WHO<\/abbr> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST<\/abbr>) has the capability to rapidly deploy public health experts at 48 hours\u2019 notice in order to strengthen the in-country response, curtail the spread of disease, and ultimately save lives.<\/p>\n

The deployment is in response to a call from the World Health Organisation\u2019s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN<\/abbr>). The GOARN<\/abbr> team, which the members of the UK-PHRST<\/abbr> will be part of, is working closely with the government of the DRC<\/abbr> to rapidly scale up its operations in response to the current outbreak.<\/p>\n

The 3 UK-PHRST<\/abbr> team members deploying include 2 experts in tracking outbreaks (epidemiologists) and a data scientist. The team is expected to remain in the DRC<\/abbr> for around 6 weeks, during which time they will help track the spread of the outbreak, and will also support in establishing robust data systems that will help align crucial information gathering. The UK-PHRST<\/abbr> also has expertise in various other key areas for Ebola response, such as laboratory diagnostics, that can be deployed should they be needed.<\/p>\n

The public health risk to the UK regarding the current Ebola outbreak is negligible to very low.<\/p>\n

As the UK-PHRST<\/abbr>\u2019s deployment progresses, it will continue to provide support and share expertise with partners in DRC<\/abbr> to strengthen the health system beyond the immediate response.<\/p>\n

Professor Daniel Bausch, Director of the UK-PHRST<\/abbr> said:<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately Ebola has again re-emerged in the DRC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

We are all aware of the potential devastation Ebola can cause, so it\u2019s essential that we respond rapidly to stop the outbreak in its tracks.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, we are seeing a rapid response both in the DRC<\/abbr> and from international partners, and the UK-PHRST<\/abbr> is proud to be part of that, providing specialist support that can benefit the country, not only for this outbreak but for the long-term.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The UK-PHRST<\/abbr>, funded by the UK Aid, is a partnership between Public Health England (PHE<\/abbr>) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The team also works with the University of Oxford and King\u2019s College London as academic partners. It continually monitors infectious diseases and other hazards globally, identifying situations where the deployment of specialist expertise could prevent these threats from turning into a global outbreak.<\/p>\n

Public Health Minister Steve Brine MP, said:<\/p>\n

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The Ebola virus is absolutely devastating and it is critical to get it under control as quickly as possible to halt the spread.<\/p>\n

Our expert UK Public Health Rapid Support Team will be on the ground to help the people and government in DRC<\/abbr> to respond and recover and grow their ability to protect against disease into the future.<\/p>\n

The UK was central to international efforts to bring this deadly virus under control in 2014, and it is only right that we continue to show global leadership.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

For information on the latest number of cases, please visit the WHO<\/abbr> website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UK-PHRST<\/abbr><\/h3>\n

UK-PHRST<\/abbr> consists of public health experts, scientists, academics and clinicians ready to respond to urgent requests from countries around the world within 48 hours to support them in preventing local disease outbreaks from becoming global epidemics.<\/p>\n

Informed by surveillance data, the UK-PHRST<\/abbr> deploys on behalf of UK government in response to requests from low- and middle-income countries, as well as with the WHO<\/abbr> and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

The UK-PHRST<\/abbr> has previously deployed members to outbreaks in Ethiopia (acute watery diarrhoea), Nigeria (meningitis), Sierra Leone (water-borne disease\/cholera risk), Madagascar (plague), Bangladesh (diphtheria) and Nigeria (Lassa fever).<\/p>\n

The core team consists of:<\/p>\n