Queen Elizabeth II is concerned that the widespread Ebola outbreak is taking critical attention away from malaria.
The Queen, 88, was visiting the think tank Chatham House on Tuesday when she voiced her views.
“After Ebola we will still have malaria,” the queen told a group that included David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, reported AFP.
“She was very interested in Ebola because she said her doctor had told her that there were more people dying from malaria every week than are dying from Ebola--and he was right,” said Heymann.
“She’s afraid that malaria will have a comeback because of the fact people are not paying enough attention to it.”
With hospitals crammed with Ebola patients, those suffering from malaria have a smaller chance of getting proper treatment.
Heymann said that among the medical community there is “a great fear” that deaths from common childhood diseases such as malaria will increase due to Ebola, noting that the Queen is “very perceptive.”
“This should not detract attention from Ebola. It’s a very terrible disease. But on the other hand what the Queen has done is call attention to other infectious diseases,” he said.
“She asked a very piercing and important question which means that she has analysed clearly the world situation of disease and she’s come to this conclusion which is the right conclusion.”
A royal source added to the Telegraph that the Queen wants other health threats in West Africa to be addressed in the midst of the Ebola outbreak.
The Queen was at the Chatham House to introduce the new leadership academy, the The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs
She removed a brick from the wall between the two building to symbolize the expansion into the neighboring building.
“I am delighted that the Royal Institute of International Affairs had launched this academy as it approaches its first centenary anniversary,” the Queen said. “I wish the institute every success for this new initiative.”
The academy will “offer potential and established leaders from around the world the opportunity to develop the tools needed to address the major policy challenges and critical issues facing the world today,” according to Chatham.
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