The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 5,515 confirmed infections and killed 2,642 people, according to the latest government figures. The figures include 51 new cases detected in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
The case fatality rate has climbed to nearly 48 percent from about 20 percent in early June. Contact tracing has improved sharply, rising from 30 percent in June to more than 85 percent.
A high-risk outbreak facing major obstacles
Declared in mid-May, the outbreak is the DRC’s 17th Ebola epidemic and has been designated a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, including because of the situation in neighbouring Uganda.
The outbreak has been hampered by armed conflict in the affected provinces, displacement, attacks on medical personnel and health facilities, a mobile working population and a lack of critical infrastructure. About 160 health workers have been infected and about 45 have died, according to the WHO.
Related coverage: Ervebo doses reach Kinshasa as Ebola spreads in DRC.
Vaccines have arrived, but protection is uncertain
There is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain involved in this outbreak, which is rarer than the Ebola virus type behind most previous outbreaks. The WHO has pledged 70,000 doses of Ervebo, a vaccine licensed for Ebola that has been effective in past outbreaks.
Some 16,250 doses arrived in the DRC on Friday. Early animal-trial data suggest Ervebo may offer some protection against Bundibugyo, but the source material does not establish that it is approved for this strain.
International response urged as cases continue
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other officials said the response needs to be expanded two to threefold to reach every affected area. They also called for protective equipment, timely payment and rapid diagnosis and high-quality supportive care for frontline health workers.
More context: A new death extends the DRC Ebola outbreak’s reach.
Pope Leo called for international action involving local communities in prevention efforts. The WHO rates the risk to the global public as low but says the danger inside the DRC remains very high. Uganda and several health zones in Ituri and South Kivu have interrupted transmission, which the WHO said shows that rapid detection, decisive leadership and community cooperation can break transmission chains.
Also read: Ebola deaths in DRC surpass toll from 2018–20 outbreak.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.