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UK should have heeded M​SF warnings on Ebola, MPs say UK should have heeded M​SF warnings on Ebola, MPs say
(7 months later)
The UK could have responded much faster to the Ebola crisis if the Department for International Development (DfID) had heeded early warnings about the “unprecedented scale” of the outbreak, a group of MPs has suggested.The UK could have responded much faster to the Ebola crisis if the Department for International Development (DfID) had heeded early warnings about the “unprecedented scale” of the outbreak, a group of MPs has suggested.
The two-year outbreak in parts of west Africa – which was officially declared over last week – killed 11,315 people, infected more than 28,000 and revealed systemic failures on the part of the World Health Organisation (WHO).The two-year outbreak in parts of west Africa – which was officially declared over last week – killed 11,315 people, infected more than 28,000 and revealed systemic failures on the part of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A report from the international development committee (IDC) says that, rather than waiting for the WHO to acknowledge the threat posed by the outbreak, which did not happen until August 2014, the government should have been listening to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which had raised the alarm two months earlier.A report from the international development committee (IDC) says that, rather than waiting for the WHO to acknowledge the threat posed by the outbreak, which did not happen until August 2014, the government should have been listening to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which had raised the alarm two months earlier.
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It says DfID was too slow to respond to warnings from MSF and others because of its overreliance on the existing international public health system and its expectation that the WHO would act quickly.It says DfID was too slow to respond to warnings from MSF and others because of its overreliance on the existing international public health system and its expectation that the WHO would act quickly.
“Warnings were given but were not heeded,” says the report. “Had they been heeded, DfID would have been able to respond much faster, as evidence shows from DfID’s response after the [emergency] was announced, when the UK demonstrated strong and swift political leadership, which we commend.”“Warnings were given but were not heeded,” says the report. “Had they been heeded, DfID would have been able to respond much faster, as evidence shows from DfID’s response after the [emergency] was announced, when the UK demonstrated strong and swift political leadership, which we commend.”
Although the WHO and others have already begun efforts to overhaul early warning systems and rethink the international response, the committee warns DfID that it must improve “its own ability to independently assess international public health risks”.Although the WHO and others have already begun efforts to overhaul early warning systems and rethink the international response, the committee warns DfID that it must improve “its own ability to independently assess international public health risks”.
Stephen Twigg MP, chair of the IDC, said that while the WHO needed to accept primary responsibility for the delay in alerting the world to Ebola, DfID should also reflect on its handling of the crisis.Stephen Twigg MP, chair of the IDC, said that while the WHO needed to accept primary responsibility for the delay in alerting the world to Ebola, DfID should also reflect on its handling of the crisis.
“The department should have been able to pick up on warnings from sources beyond the established international system,” he said. “Other organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières were in the field and leading calls for urgent action. There must be a fully functioning early warning system to respond to international public health emergencies.”“The department should have been able to pick up on warnings from sources beyond the established international system,” he said. “Other organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières were in the field and leading calls for urgent action. There must be a fully functioning early warning system to respond to international public health emergencies.”
Despite its criticisms, the committee says the government should be commended on the response it provided once the WHO belatedly realised the magnitude of the outbreak.Despite its criticisms, the committee says the government should be commended on the response it provided once the WHO belatedly realised the magnitude of the outbreak.
“We applaud all of the staff who worked in Sierra Leone and the region to bring the epidemic under control,” says the report. “The UK’s response to the Ebola crisis represents a very good example of cross-government working.”“We applaud all of the staff who worked in Sierra Leone and the region to bring the epidemic under control,” says the report. “The UK’s response to the Ebola crisis represents a very good example of cross-government working.”
In common with many of the studies into the response, the IDC report stresses the importance of strengthening weak health systems and doing more to engage communities to win trust and halt the spread of infectious diseases.In common with many of the studies into the response, the IDC report stresses the importance of strengthening weak health systems and doing more to engage communities to win trust and halt the spread of infectious diseases.
It also points to the huge benefits of small and rapid disbursements of funding: one doctor said that, had DfID provided him with the £7,500 he repeatedly asked for in June 2014 for eight isolation units, the money would have had the impact of “hundreds of thousands of pounds later on”.It also points to the huge benefits of small and rapid disbursements of funding: one doctor said that, had DfID provided him with the £7,500 he repeatedly asked for in June 2014 for eight isolation units, the money would have had the impact of “hundreds of thousands of pounds later on”.
The reports adds: “In general, small, early interventions will deliver good value for money and can reduce the amount of money required further down the line. In contrast, a response that is playing catch-up is very likely to cost more.”The reports adds: “In general, small, early interventions will deliver good value for money and can reduce the amount of money required further down the line. In contrast, a response that is playing catch-up is very likely to cost more.”
The IDC has asked DfID for regular updates on the “radical reform” of the WHO, arguing that the Ebola crisis should act as a “stark wake-up call” for the entire world. Despite the official end of the epidemic, the WHO has warned of potential flare-ups as survivors can carry the virus for months. Sierra Leone last week put more than 100 people in quarantine after a new Ebola death.The IDC has asked DfID for regular updates on the “radical reform” of the WHO, arguing that the Ebola crisis should act as a “stark wake-up call” for the entire world. Despite the official end of the epidemic, the WHO has warned of potential flare-ups as survivors can carry the virus for months. Sierra Leone last week put more than 100 people in quarantine after a new Ebola death.
“Responsibility for identifying and reacting rapidly to such events rests with the entire international community, including the UK,” it concludes. “Such an outbreak can never be allowed to occur again, or to develop so catastrophically due to international inaction.”“Responsibility for identifying and reacting rapidly to such events rests with the entire international community, including the UK,” it concludes. “Such an outbreak can never be allowed to occur again, or to develop so catastrophically due to international inaction.”
DfID defended its response to the worst Ebola outbreak in history, pointing out that it had been fighting Ebola long before the WHO sounded its warning.DfID defended its response to the worst Ebola outbreak in history, pointing out that it had been fighting Ebola long before the WHO sounded its warning.
“Months before the first cases of Ebola were confirmed in Sierra Leone [in May 2014], Britain was at the forefront of tackling this unprecedented epidemic as we simultaneously pushed the international system to respond more quickly,” said a spokeswoman.“Months before the first cases of Ebola were confirmed in Sierra Leone [in May 2014], Britain was at the forefront of tackling this unprecedented epidemic as we simultaneously pushed the international system to respond more quickly,” said a spokeswoman.
“From rapidly deploying NHS medics and military personnel to building treatment centres, our swift and effective action helped save thousands of lives and contain the spread of the disease.”“From rapidly deploying NHS medics and military personnel to building treatment centres, our swift and effective action helped save thousands of lives and contain the spread of the disease.”
Last week, experts warned that efforts to prepare for pandemics have been chronically underfunded, adding that a global investment of £3bn each year – or 40p a person – would go a long way to reducing the threat posed by infectious diseases.Last week, experts warned that efforts to prepare for pandemics have been chronically underfunded, adding that a global investment of £3bn each year – or 40p a person – would go a long way to reducing the threat posed by infectious diseases.