Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Still Far from Under Control, More Than 5,000 Cases Confirmed
Dragon Media News Desk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains far from under control, with confirmed infections surpassing 5,000 and more than 2,300 deaths reported.
According to the latest WHO data, as of August 16, a total of 5,021 confirmed cases had been reported across 55 health zones in six provinces of the DRC. Of those infected, 2,378 had died, putting the case fatality rate at 47.4 percent.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak had gained a significant lead over response efforts and stressed the need to intensify surveillance, treatment, community engagement and cross-border coordination to prevent further spread.
According to WHO, the outbreak has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded globally and is spreading at an alarming pace compared with previous outbreaks. Insecurity, displacement and extensive population movement along roads, rivers and mining areas have further complicated containment efforts.
WHO said 640 new confirmed cases and 367 deaths were reported in the latest week alone. The spread of infection to the northeastern province of Bas-Uele has increased the number of affected provinces to six.
One of the most concerning features of the outbreak is the high number of infected people dying in communities rather than in treatment centres. WHO has warned that when patients die before they are identified and their contacts are traced, undetected chains of transmission can continue within communities.
The DRC government declared the new outbreak on May 15 after identifying the Bundibugyo ebolavirus as the cause. Two days later, WHO declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern.
There is currently no approved specific vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. However, WHO says two vaccine candidates targeting the virus have entered human trials for the first time, while international research is also underway to evaluate potential treatments.
WHO, Africa CDC, the Congolese government and partner organisations are expanding community-based surveillance, increasing treatment capacity, strengthening infection prevention measures, promoting safe burials and reinforcing monitoring in border areas.
Cases linked to the outbreak had previously been detected in Uganda, where authorities have since brought the initial transmission under control. The arrival of an infected traveller in France, however, has highlighted the risk of the virus crossing international borders.
WHO has warned that the outbreak will continue unless all chains of transmission are identified and interrupted.
With intense transmission, a high fatality rate and continued geographic expansion, the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become a major challenge for both national authorities and the wider global health community.
