The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are encouraging signs that efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are beginning to show results, but the agency is warning that cases are rising rapidly in another region.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that transmission is declining in the most affected areas of Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak. He also noted that South Kivu has reported no new cases since May.
Despite those developments, Tedros stressed that the outbreak remains a serious threat. He said more than 7,200 cases and 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces, emphasizing that the epidemic continues to spread and cause deaths.
The situation is particularly concerning in North Kivu, where the number of weekly cases has nearly doubled over the past two weeks, rising from about 100 to more than 200. WHO officials say the size and complexity of the affected region make the outbreak difficult to treat as a single epidemic.
The outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a relatively rare species of Ebola virus. The current outbreak has expanded across seven provinces, with health authorities working to improve surveillance, contact tracing, vaccination and treatment.
More than 3,000 frontline health and response workers have received Merck’s Ervebo vaccine. However, WHO officials say its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus driving the current outbreak is not yet known, prompting research into its potential effectiveness and other vaccine candidates.
WHO officials have urged caution despite the declining transmission in parts of Ituri. Maria Van Kerkhove, the agency’s director for epidemic and pandemic management, said health officials can be cautiously optimistic but must remain realistic because monitoring outbreak trends takes time.
The outbreak also continues to face challenges linked to population movement, insecurity and the difficulty of accessing some affected communities. WHO has warned that continued transmission could increase the risk of the virus spreading to other areas and across borders.
The latest developments show a mixed picture: containment efforts appear to be reducing transmission in parts of Ituri, while North Kivu is experiencing a sharp rise in cases. Health authorities therefore face the challenge of maintaining progress in the epicenter while preventing further expansion elsewhere.
Swifteradio.com
