Ebola cases in DR Congo top 1,200
Kinshasa, June 27
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 1,203 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 321 deaths, since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, according to the latest report released by the country's public health authorities.
According to the report, released on Friday (local time), 148 patients have recovered, while 419 patients are in isolation or receiving hospital care. Health authorities also identified 265 suspected cases, including 77 deaths.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday on X that contact tracing in the DRC was reaching more people and more Ebola patients were recovering and returning home.
However, he warned that the fight was "far from over," saying war and insecurity were still slowing the response and that mistrust remained a key challenge, reports Xinhua news agency.
The report also listed a series of operational challenges facing the response, including community resistance to post-mortem testing, insufficient treatment capacity in Ituri, where treatment centres were close to saturation, and a contact follow-up rate still below the 95 per cent target.
It also warned of shortages of essential medicines, infection prevention and control supplies, with a gap of about 20 isolation centres. Insecurity and limited access in areas affected by armed groups, population mobility and a funding gap of about 20 million U.S. dollars were also cited as major constraints.
The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, was officially declared on May 15.
Meanwhile,the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appealed for 1.4 billion US dollars to finance Ebola outbreak response efforts.
During an online press briefing on Thursday evening, Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said that five weeks into its declaration, the outbreak has yet to reach its peak, citing "a huge increase of cases" over the past week. He noted that compared to similar recent Ebola outbreaks, the current crisis is fast emerging as the largest.
"If we don't stop this outbreak now, and if it lasts two years -- as was the case in West Africa and in the eastern part of the DRC -- it will certainly be the largest Ebola outbreak ever," he warned.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Such a tragic situation, and the community resistance to testing is a red flag. Mistrust in health systems is a common challenge, even in our own country. We must learn from this—strengthening public health communication and building trust is as important as medicine. Praying for those affected in DRC 🙏
The Africa CDC's warning that this could become the largest Ebola outbreak ever is alarming. The shortage of isolation centres and essential medicines shows how fragile healthcare systems can be in conflict zones. India's experience with COVID-19 should remind us that no one is safe until everyone is safe. Global solidarity is not optional here.
The fact that only 148 out of over 1,200 confirmed cases have recovered is heartbreaking. And with insecurity in Ituri making it worse, it's a nightmare for healthcare workers. I hope WHO and others can reach the most vulnerable. India should share our epidemic response playbook—we learned a lot during Nipah and COVID.
"The largest Ebola outbreak ever"—that's a terrifying prospect. While I appreciate the WHO's efforts, the lack of progress in contact tracing is concerning. The contact follow-up rate below 95% is a major gap. Has the global community learned nothing from West Africa in 2014? We need immediate action, not just reports. 😔
This crisis shows how interconnected our world is. The DRC's outbreak could have ripple effects globally. I'm glad the report mentions community resistance—it's often overlooked. In India, we face similar challenges with vaccine hesitancy. Public health is not just
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