World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that the actual number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be more than double what is currently known, as ongoing conflicts limit access to affected areas.
elchi reports that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made statements on his social media account regarding the efforts and current challenges related to the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Recalling that more than 2,500 cases of infection, over 1,000 deaths, and more than 500 recoveries have been recorded since the epidemic was declared in May, Ghebreyesus noted that most of the deaths occurred in civilian settlements rather than in treatment centers. Emphasizing that the biggest obstacle in fighting the pandemic is the security issue, Ghebreyesus stated, “It is estimated that the actual number of infected people could be more than double, as security and active conflicts continue to limit access to affected areas.” He noted that although contact tracing reaches approximately 80% of identified individuals, teams cannot enter every region, diagnose patients, or reach every location. Despite the progress made, he stated that the spread of the pandemic is outpacing the response measures.
“The people of the DRC need peace.”
Ghebreyesus stated that reducing infections in the Ituri region and combating the potentially rapidly spreading pandemic in newly affected states are priority goals, and political steps toward a ceasefire must be taken to open a urgently needed humanitarian corridor. Emphasizing the need for political solutions alongside technical challenges, Ghebreyesus said, “The people of the DRC cannot fight this pandemic alone. They need the continued support of the international community and, most importantly, peace.”
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