Ebola cases in DR Congo top 5,000 – Africa CDC

The Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases of Ebola in its current outbreak, marking it as the country's worst on record, according to the African Union's health agency. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has resulted in 2,378 deaths among the 5,021 confirmed cases.

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the epidemic is far from being under control

This latest surge, primarily affecting regions in the north and east where state presence is weak and health infrastructure is lacking, has proven deadlier than a previous 2018-2020 outbreak. That earlier epidemic claimed 2,299 lives out of 3,381 cases. The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, cautioned that the epidemic is "far from being under control" and the risk of further spread remains high.

Efforts to combat the virus face significant challenges. Mistrust among the population, refusals to undergo testing, and resistance in some communities hinder surveillance and control activities. The presence of numerous armed groups in the affected areas further complicates response operations. While clinical trials for a vaccine and treatment are underway for the Bundibugyo virus strain, difficulties persist in reaching and securing cooperation from affected communities.

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The risk of further national and international spread remains high

The European Union has announced a contribution of 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) in testing kits to bolster the response. However, the overall effort has drawn criticism for its perceived slowness and disorganization, exacerbating the difficulties in containing the epidemic.

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Difficulties persist, including refusals of testing and resistance in some communities, which hinders surveillance and control activities