Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The World Health Organisation has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly, with health authorities struggling to keep pace with the growing number of infections in the country’s conflict-affected eastern region.
Speaking from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, WHO Regional Emergencies Director for Africa, Marie-Roseline Belizaire, said the outbreak remains a major concern despite significant progress in response efforts.
“The outbreak remains serious” and is “evolving so fast”, Belizaire told reporters on Friday.
The outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
According to the latest WHO figures, the DRC has recorded 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths, with 21 new infections reported within the last 24 hours.
More than 90 per cent of the confirmed cases have been recorded in Ituri Province, although the virus has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Belizaire said health authorities have significantly expanded response measures, including increasing Ebola treatment capacity from zero to more than 500 beds.
Surveillance teams are now investigating nearly 400 alerts and can conduct more than 2,000 tests daily.
She added that efforts to identify and monitor contacts of infected persons had improved, with about 75 per cent of known contacts currently being traced.
The WHO, however, says at least 95 per cent contact tracing is required to effectively contain the outbreak.
“However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day,” Belizaire said.
The outbreak has also affected neighbouring Uganda, where authorities have confirmed 19 cases, including two deaths. Ten patients have recovered, while no new infections have been reported in the past 12 days.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease transmitted through close contact with infected individuals or bodily fluids and can cause severe illness and death if not promptly contained.
