Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda: Ebola Outbreak
Debate between Lord Patel and Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
Our team in Kinshasa is in crisis mode, as noble Lords would expect, and ready to provide any support. There are very few UK nationals in that part of the world because of the danger from the conflict, but there are some UK medics—I have met them—and well-tested protocols are in place should they wish to return to the UK. We know how to do this; we are experienced in doing it and, obviously, our priority is to keep the UK and our citizens safe.
Lord Patel (CB)
My Lords, the vaccine that exists is effective only against Ebola Zaire. The strain now operating has had two previous minor breakouts; Bundibugyo is the name of the strain. I hope the Minister will agree that our hope lies in developing a vaccine as quickly as we can, which might take up to six or nine months. But we have the knowledge of the vaccine against the Zaire strain, which is an advantage. The outbreak has now reached Kampala, which is worrying, but the Ugandans are apt, as they demonstrated previously, at isolating the cases and stopping the outbreak going any further. I hope it will not spread any further.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)
There is nothing that the noble Lord just said for me to disagree with. I can assure him, though, that two cases were identified in Kampala and the others tested have been negative. He is absolutely right about the development of a vaccine.