The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America is calling for a renewed commitment to coordinating international response efforts for the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
SHEA's call comes after Omaha-based Nebraska Medical Center on Dec. 29 admitted an American physician who was potentially exposed to Ebola in the Congo. As of Dec. 31, health officials reported 602 Ebola cases linked to the outbreak, making it the country's second-worst Ebola outbreak in history.
SHEA said effective prevention, treatment and containment efforts in the outbreak area will help Congo maximize resources provided by multinational governments and nongovernmental organizations.
"There is an ongoing need for support to further the efforts in the Congo, as well as domestic preparedness to ensure readiness nationally," SHEA President Hilary Babcock, MD, said in a press release. "U.S. hospitals are well-situated to respond to infectious outbreaks, but ongoing funding and attention are required to maintain the training required for readiness."