Congo says Ebola outbreak still at early stage but cases rising
Kinshasa, May 27
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains at an early stage, but infections and deaths continue to rise, Health Minister Roger Kamba said.
Health authorities have identified around 1,000 suspected cases in affected areas, of which 101 have tested positive, Kamba told a press conference.
Preliminary figures show that about 200 to 220 deaths are believed to be linked to the outbreak, while 17 deaths have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
"We are still at the beginning of an epidemic," Kamba said, adding that the duration of the current growth phase would depend on the effectiveness of response efforts. The minister said authorities are planning a response operation expected to last four to six months.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which Kamba described as less lethal than the Zaire strain but still dangerous if infections continue to rise. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola.
To contain transmission, authorities are relying on surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, community engagement and safe burials, he said.
On Saturday, the government suspended civilian passenger flights to and from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province and the epicentre of the outbreak, while humanitarian flights remain in operation, Xinhua news agency reported.
Kamba said the virus may have been circulating before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, citing Ebola's incubation period of up to 21 days. He added that health authorities have yet to identify the outbreak's "patient zero."
Earlier on May 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) had said that a confirmed case of Ebola virus disease is recovering in Goma, an eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) city, with work underway to strengthen the response against the outbreak.
Anne Ancia, WHO's acting representative in the DRC had made the remarks during a visit to Goma, currently under the control of the March 23 Movement rebel group.
The confirmed patient is receiving treatment at a local hospital with "very positive" condition, while contacts are being "monitored regularly," Ancia had said.
She had noted that current discussions focused on the city's health situation and measures to reinforce surveillance, case management, contact tracing and community engagement in response to the Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The lack of a vaccine for this Bundibugyo strain is worrying. During COVID, we saw how quickly variants can emerge. Here in India, we should be monitoring flights from that region closely and have screening ready at airports. Better to be safe than sorry. Also, kudos to the health workers on the ground risking their lives.
I commend the response efforts, but I have a respectful criticism: the suspension of civilian flights to Bunia while allowing humanitarian flights is good, but it feels like patchwork. Community engagement and safe burials are crucial, but why wasn't this detected earlier? The incubation period is 21 days, yet they haven't found patient zero. This suggests gaps in surveillance. Hope lessons from West Africa 2014 are applied here.
Ebola is terrifying, but we've seen how communities in Africa have fought back bravely. The fact that one patient is already recovering in Goma is a positive sign. India should offer any technical support it can - we have experience with Nipah virus management in Kerala. Solidarity with Congo! 🇮🇳🤝🇨🇩
Interesting that the WHO rep mentioned Goma is under rebel control. That complicates containment efforts immensely. In conflicts, disease spreads faster because health systems collapse. We saw that in Syria with polio. This needs a coordinated global response, not just local measures. India should support through WHO or directly with logistics if needed.
As someone who remembers the 2014 outbreak, this brings back memories. The Bundibugyo strain having no vaccine is a challenge, but
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.