The current Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
The World Health Organization warned on Friday that the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly, even as response efforts intensify.“The outbreak remains serious and is evolving very quickly. However, I have seen a response that is getting stronger every day,” Marie Roslyn Belisaire, head of WHO’s Africa emergencies division, told reporters in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak.She added that contact tracing has improved, with about 75% of known contacts now reached, although the World Health Organization says at least 95% must be traced to effectively control the outbreak.The outbreak was declared on May 15, but transmission is believed to have been spreading undetected for some time before that.Belizaire noted that some patients first seek help from traditional healers or stay at home before going to health facilities, delaying treatment.
She added that the treatment capacity has increased significantly from zero beds to more than 500 beds.The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment.So far, there have been 896 confirmed cases and 232 confirmed deaths, including 21 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, according to World Health Organization figures.More than 90% of cases are concentrated in conflict-hit Ituri province, although the virus has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu.In all, 78 people have recovered, which Belisaire called a reminder that timely diagnosis and access to health care can save lives.(With AFP inputs)
