India and the African Union have postponed a major diplomatic summit scheduled for next week in New Delhi following rising concerns over an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The India–Africa Forum Summit, which was originally slated for May 28 to May 31, has now been put on hold as health authorities track the spread of the virus in parts of central Africa.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the decision was taken in light of evolving public health risks on the continent.
“Mindful of the emerging public health situation on the continent… the two sides agreed that it would be advisable to convene the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit at a later date,” the ministry said.
It added that India remains committed to supporting Africa’s health response mechanisms, noting that it is ready “to contribute to Africa CDC-led (Centres for Disease Control) efforts aimed at addressing the evolving health situation.”
READ ALSO: WHO: Ebola Spreading Across Region But Global Risk Remains Low
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak poses a high risk within central Africa, but the global risk remains low. It also indicated that the virus may have been circulating for months before detection.
The outbreak, declared last Friday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak. Health authorities estimate it has led to about 139 deaths from roughly 600 suspected cases.
In response to the situation, Delhi’s international airport issued a health advisory on Thursday for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
New Delhi also stressed the need for stronger global cooperation in public health preparedness, adding that new dates for the postponed summit will be announced in due course.