Ebola virus: deaths and tragedy

Ebola, a deadly illness that somehow has been addressed to within the United States, is still causing deaths and tragedy within the Democratic Republic of Congo. The article “ Why DR Congo is confident it will halt Ebola” by Anne Soy discusses how despite the 22 deaths the society of DR Congo has recently experienced due to the return of Ebola, government and health officials are confident that now they will have the resources and means to prevent further deaths, and won’t allow the death tolls to grow to the previous numbers that were affected by Ebola, which had grown to over 11, 000 people (Soy, 2018). The return of Ebola within DR Congo is a significant social welfare matter because it directly deals with the state of society’s health, and their collective well-being. Moreover, the society’s lack of health can greatly damage the country’s already depleted economy, and little amount of available resources. For instance, Soy’s article consists of an interview Dr. Muyembe, who is a leader in the fight against Ebola within DR Congo, and he recalls a time when he was flying with a nurse who had the illness, and not only did she die during her transportation, but she also infected two other nurses (Soy, 2018). Thus, the illness can take such a form that, if not appropriately and properly prepared and protected, it makes it unapproachable for one to address it.

Another article, “ Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo,” by Susan Scutti and Debra Goldschimdt agree with Soy’s findings that there’s yet another Ebola outbreak within the DR Congo, so far infecting already over 20 people (Scutti & Goldschmidt, 2018). However, Scutti and Goldschmidt’s article doesn’t necessarily have the nonchalant and reassuring tone of Soy’s article; rather, it speaks on how worrisome the situation is, discusses the extensive funds being released to address the situation, and overall, discuss the actions being taken to eliminate the disease as soon as possible. However, what both articles relentlessly agree on is that the World Health Organization and the health and government officials of DR Congo are doing everything in their capacity to address this social welfare issue that not only affects the citizens and the people of the country, but also the economic well-being, the environmental survival, and overall future of the country.