United Nations World Health Organization
Ebola
Republic of Azerbaijan
Josie Ness
Ebola was discovered in 1976, and the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus’ outbreak. Vaccines are under development, however, there is no known cure for Ebola. The disease is often fatal. Until a cure is discovered, it is essential that the countries of the World Health Organization come to an agreement on how cases and outbreaks of ebola should be prevented and treated. Community engagement is a key factor in controlling Ebola outbreaks.
Through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Azerbaijan donated 1,700,000.00 Azerbaijani Manat (1,000,000 USD) to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone in their fight against Ebola. We have generously given this money and believe that other countries should follow suit. “The problem of the Ebola virus poses no serious threat to Azerbaijan,” Department Head of the Epidemiology of Infectious and Special Dangerous Infectious Diseases of the Republican Anti-Plague Station, Rita Ismayilova said. Climatic conditions play a significant role in the spread of Ebola, and the climate of Azerbaijan is not appropriate for the spreading of the virus. Despite this, Azerbaijan has taken the necessary precautions. If a case of infection is detected, Azerbaijan is prepared to enact the World Health Organization’s recommendations for fighting the disease. According to the Deputy Director of the Republican Anti-Plague Station, Shair Gurbanov, Azerbaijan does not trade with countries in which the virus is widespread and strongly encourages that its citizens do not travel to these countries. In September, the Caucasian Muslims Board warned Azerbaijani citizens that planned to perform the hajj to avoid contact with people from countries in which the disease is widespread and practice personal precautions.
Azerbaijan recommends that the World Health Organization take action to inform all people who travel to countries in which the Ebola virus is widespread about the risks of travel and how to take necessary precautions. Azerbaijan recommends the creation of border-crossing points in order to create conditions of medical surveillance of people from countries where the virus is found. Azerbaijan requests that all countries comply with the World Health Organization’s existing guidelines for combating the Ebola virus once it has been detected.
- Josie Ness
