Ebola spreading ‘fast’ in DR Congo, warns WHO

The World Health Organization issued a stark warning Friday: the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading "fast" and remains "serious." Despite accelerated efforts to combat the virus, the situation in the northeastern DRC is worsening, according to WHO Africa emergencies chief Marie-Roseline Belizaire.

Belizaire, speaking from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, described the outbreak as "evolving so fast." The epidemic, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no vaccine, has seen 896 confirmed cases and 232 confirmed deaths in the DRC since it was declared on May 15. The virus has spread from Ituri, a province heavily impacted by conflict, to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

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The outbreak remains serious and is evolving so fast.

Despite the grim numbers, Belizaire noted that the response is strengthening daily. The number of treatment beds has surged from zero to over 500. Surveillance teams are investigating nearly 400 alerts and can conduct over 2,000 tests daily. Crucially, contact tracing has ramped up, with 75 percent of contacts now being reached, a significant improvement toward the WHO's goal of 95 percent needed to control the outbreak.

Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, but has seen no new cases for 12 days, indicating a potential stabilization in that region.

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However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day.