With cases of Ebola already reported in the United States and in Europe, adding to the over 4,000 confirmed dead and more than 8,000 infected in West Africa as of mid-October, many wondered whether Asia-Pacific would be ready to combat the deadly virus if it spread there soon.
In terms of preparation and treatment, Asia-Pacific has a historical “competitive advantage” over others, according to World Health Organization Regional Director Shin Young-soo.
“We have our own structure, most of our countries that are sufficient enough to have strong resistance to these kinds of outbreaks,” Shin said during a WHO press conference in Manila attended by Devex Oct. 10. “On top of that, we have experience in SARS ... we learned from that experience. We are in a much better shape than other regions.”
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
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