Over 900 suspected cases identified in Congo Ebola response: WHO chief
Geneva, May 25
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that as the Democratic Republic of the Congo scales up surveillance in its Ebola response, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases.
In Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, nearly 5 million people live amid ongoing conflict, with one in four in need of humanitarian assistance and one in five internally displaced, Tedros said in a post on X.
"The violence is forcing people to flee, including health and humanitarian workers. This is severely impeding efforts to scale up Ebola contact tracing and identify infections early enough to provide supportive care," he added, noting that ongoing insecurity and fear are also fueling mistrust within communities.
The WHO chief said that WHO and humanitarian health partners maintain a presence across Ituri, including in some of the hardest-to-reach and most insecure areas, where communities are facing not only the threat of Ebola but also a wide range of diseases.
Tedros emphasised that delivering a comprehensive package of healthcare services is essential -- not only to meet urgent health needs, but also to build the trust that is critical for an effective Ebola response, Xinhua news agency reported.
On May 16, Tedros determined that the Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the DRC and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. On May 22, the WHO revised its risk assessment to "very high" at the national level, while keeping it as "high" at the regional level and "low" globally.
According to the WHO, Ebola disease is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates.
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
The average Ebola disease case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25-90 per cent in past outbreaks.
The first Ebola disease outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests. The 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976. There were more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. It also spread between countries, starting in Guinea then moving across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Over 900 suspected cases and only 101 confirmed? The surveillance is scaling up, but the gap shows how hard it is to diagnose in these conditions. Ebola is so frightening, especially when you see the fatality rates can go up to 90%. I hope the efforts in DRC learn from the 2014 West Africa outbreak and act fast.
The violence forcing health workers to flee is a double tragedy. In India, we've managed to control Ebola scares at airports and ports thanks to robust protocols, but DRC's situation is much more complex. The mistrust in communities is a real bottleneck. WHO's move to declare this a public health emergency of international concern is absolutely right. Let's hope for a coordinated global response. 🙏
It's concerning that WHO revised the risk to 'very high' at national level. With 5 million people in Ituri province, many displaced, the potential for spread is immense. I appreciate that Tedros is pushing for a comprehensive package, but isn't it a bit late? The outbreak was likely simmering for a while. I hope this doesn't become another West Africa scale disaster.
The way Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids reminds me why we need to maintain hygiene even in normal times. But in conflict zones like Ituri, even basic supplies are scarce. I just hope the WHO and partners can reach those hardest-to-reach areas without compromising safety. Trust-building takes time, but every hour counts.
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