Ebola outbreak in Congo worsens, WHO warns of further escalation

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is escalating, with the country now reporting over 900 suspected cases and 204 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the grim figures over the weekend, noting a significant increase in both infections and fatalities compared to the previous day. Of the confirmed cases, 91 have been verified in the lab, with ten resulting in death.

Neighboring Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases linked to the eastern Congo outbreak, though it does not release figures for suspected cases. Health ministers from the region convened in Kampala, Uganda's capital, to coordinate their response to the growing crisis.

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We are facing an extremely serious and difficult outbreak. It will get worse before it gets better.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a stark warning, stating that the outbreak is expected to worsen before it can be brought under control. "We are facing an extremely serious and difficult outbreak," he said, emphasizing that containment efforts are hampered by the region's ongoing armed conflicts and the high mobility of millions of internally displaced people. Medical personnel also face extreme challenges working in the tropical climate while wearing protective gear.

The delay in detecting the outbreak was partly due to initial difficulties at a laboratory in Bunia, near the Ugandan border, in identifying the specific Ebola virus strain. The responsible virus type, Bundibugyo, was only confirmed after samples were sent to a laboratory in Kinshasa. The first confirmed cases only emerged in mid-May, highlighting the challenges in containing the highly contagious disease in a complex environment.

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But currently, the epidemic is still one step ahead of us.