Abdirahman Mahamud, Director of Health Emergency Alerts and Response Operations at the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that they are far behind the control curve in the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and noted that despite increased testing and contact tracing efforts, many challenges still remain.
“Elchi” reports that Mahamud, participating online in the weekly press conference of the United Nations (UN) Geneva Office, provided assessments regarding the situation in the DRC and Uganda, where the Ebola epidemic has occurred.
Recalling that the Ebola epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Congo has been ongoing for more than three weeks, Mahamud stated that he witnessed the main response measures in the Bunia region of the DRC, where he has been for 15 days. Mahamud stated, “As of June 8, 550 confirmed cases, 101 deaths, and a total of 19 recoveries have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The epidemic is concentrated in Ituri province, accounting for 94 percent (487) of confirmed cases. This increase in confirmed cases is due to increased testing and contact tracing activities, which is good news. However, we are lagging behind in preventing infections, and many challenges still remain. We also have ongoing investigations to confirm or rule out approximately 100 suspected cases.”
In Uganda, Mahamud noted that 19 confirmed cases, 2 deaths, and one probable death have been recorded, adding that there is no evidence of community transmission in Uganda.
Mahamud stated that the WHO continues to support local authorities and health partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The epidemic was declared in the country on May 15 after 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths were announced in the Ituri province in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO declared an international public health emergency on May 17 due to the resurgence of the Ebola epidemic.
According to health officials, the cause of the current epidemic is “Bundibugyo,” a rare variant of the Ebola virus, for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine.
It is reported that the number of cases in this epidemic has exceeded 1000.
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