The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that the virus is spreading quickly despite intensified containment efforts.
Speaking from Bunia, the capital of the conflict-ridden Ituri Province, WHO Regional Emergencies Director for Africa, Marie-Roseline Belizaire, said health officials are facing significant challenges as the outbreak continues to evolve rapidly.
“The outbreak remains serious and is changing very quickly,” Belizaire told reporters in Geneva, adding that response operations are being strengthened daily to keep pace with the growing crisis.
Although the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, health authorities believe the virus had been circulating undetected for some time before it was identified. The epidemic is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine.
According to the latest WHO figures, the DRC has recorded 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths. Authorities also reported 21 new infections within the past 24 hours. More than 90 percent of the cases have been concentrated in Ituri Province, a region already struggling with insecurity and armed violence. The disease has also spread to the neighbouring provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
Belizaire noted that the rapid rate of transmission has forced health workers to continuously expand response measures, including treatment facilities, testing operations and contact-tracing efforts. She said the number of Ebola treatment beds has grown from none at the start of the outbreak to more than 500.
Surveillance teams are currently investigating nearly 400 suspected cases and can now conduct over 2,000 Ebola tests each day. Efforts to identify and monitor people who may have come into contact with infected individuals have also improved, with authorities now reaching about 75 percent of known contacts.
However, WHO has previously stressed that at least 95 percent of contacts must be traced and monitored to effectively halt transmission.
Outside the DRC, Uganda remains the only other country affected by the outbreak. The country has reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, while 10 patients have recovered.
Ugandan health officials have recorded no new Ebola infections for 12 straight days, raising hopes that the outbreak there may be under control.
Ebola is a highly dangerous viral disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. It can cause severe haemorrhagic fever and carries a high fatality rate if not detected and treated promptly.
