Canada continues to address immediate needs in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
Ottawa, Ontario – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced additional support to help fight the growing Ebola outbreak in the West Africa region; and the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, provided an update on the situation and Canada’s efforts to date.
“Canada is gravely concerned by the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the impact it is having on the families in the region as well as the health care workers on the ground assisting them,” said Minister Paradis. “Our thoughts remain with all of those affected. Through both funding and personnel, Canada will continue to help get aid to those who need it as quickly as possible.”
Canada is committing additional funding to the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders to address the increasing need for resources to reduce and contain the spread of the disease, as well as provide care to the affected population.
“Our government is committed to aiding in the global response to this devastating outbreak in West Africa,” said Minister Ambrose. “While we continue to make investments to aid in this outbreak, I want to reassure Canadians that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in Canada and we have strong measures in place to protect and care for Canadians.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has a team of experts with a mobile lab in Sierra Leone who are assisting in the response on the ground. PHAC continues to work closely with international, provincial and territorial partners in health to ensure we are ready to detect and respond quickly in the unlikely event that a case arrives in Canada.
There are no confirmed cases of Ebola in Canada and the risk to Canadians remains very low. The Ebola virus itself does not spread easily from person to person. It is not like the flu. It is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, not through casual contact. Canada will continue to monitor the situation in the West Africa region to ensure humanitarian needs are met and will continue to provide further assistance, as appropriate.
Quick Facts
- The current Ebola outbreak in the West Africa region is the largest ever recorded to date—more than 930 people have died as a result of this outbreak.
- To date, Canada has contributed $5,010,000 in support of humanitarian and security interventions to address the spread of the Ebola virus in the West Africa region.
(Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada)