WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th October, 2018) Members of the United Nations Security Council have urged support for the World Health Organization (WHO) in fighting the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Council President for October Sacha Sergio Llorentty Soliz said on Wednesday.
"Members of the Security Council called for the immediate cessation of [conflict by] armed groups and urged support for the WHO in combating the Ebola outbreak," Llorentty, Bolivia's permanent envoy to the UN told a press conference at the world body's headquarters in New York.
The call came after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia had briefed the Security Council on the current state of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, Llorentty said.
"The disease could spread rapidly into neighboring countries possibly impacting regional security ... Members of the Security Council urged all parties [to ensure] safe and unhindered access for medical personnel ... The response team must never under any circumstances be a target," he said.
As of October 1, the Ebola virus had affected 161 individuals, and killed 106 in the country, according to the WHO. Last week, the WHO raised its risk assessment for Ebola spreading to "very high" after a case was found near a DRC border crossing to Uganda.
