# West African scientists warn of weakening health systems

> West African scientists urge stronger outbreak detection to prevent future epidemics.
- Title: West African scientists warn of weakening health systems
- Summary: West African scientists urge stronger outbreak detection to prevent future epidemics. West African scientists warn health systems are weakening and call for…
- Keywords: west african scientists, health systems, outbreak detection, ebola, covid-19, togo, sierra leone, lab scientists, disease outbreaks, bundibugyo virus, news, local
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/west-african-scientists-warn-of-weakening-health-systems-and-urge-stronger-outbreak-detection
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: west african scientists, health systems, outbreak detection, ebola, covid-19, togo, sierra leone, lab scientists, disease outbreaks, bundibugyo virus, news, local
## West African lab scientists warn
West African laboratory scientists called on governments to strengthen disease outbreak detection capacity to avoid another major outbreak.
## Regional health systems weakening
Health systems across West Africa are becoming weaker, with scientists citing lessons from Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.
## Ebola outbreak impact
Between 2014 and 2016, an Ebola outbreak killed at least 11,000 people across West Africa, overwhelmingly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
## Kossi Kabo's warning
Kossi Kabo, head of the Association of Medical Biologists of Togo, urged anticipating outbreaks before they emerge to avoid delayed responses.

> We need to anticipate these outbreaks. We shouldn’t wait for an epidemic to emerge somewhere before responding. By then, it would be too late.
## Bundibugyo virus outbreak
The Bundibugyo virus has killed over 3,600 people among nearly 7,500 cases in Congo since mid-May, with the outbreak spreading undetected for weeks.
## Health system maintenance concerns
Scientists warn that without major outbreaks, health systems have weakened, leaving them unprepared for future epidemics.
## Key takeaway

West African scientists warn health systems are weakening and call for improved outbreak detection to avoid another major epidemic.