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'Serious and spreading very fast': WHO on Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
🇮🇳 India /Health & Science

'Serious and spreading very fast': WHO on Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

From Times of India · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is serious and spreading rapidly.
  • Response efforts are intensifying, with treatment capacity increasing significantly.
  • The outbreak has caused 896 confirmed cases and 232 deaths, primarily in Ituri province.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning Friday about the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, describing the situation as "serious and evolving very fast." Despite the rapid spread, WHO officials noted that response efforts are strengthening daily.

The outbreak remains serious and is evolving very fast. However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day.

— Marie-Roseline BelizaireDescribing the current state of the Ebola outbreak and response efforts.

Marie-Roseline Belizaire, WHO's Africa emergencies chief, reported to reporters in Bunia, the outbreak's epicenter, that contact tracing has improved, reaching about 75% of known contacts. However, she stressed that at least 95% must be traced for effective control. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is believed to have been circulating undetected for some time prior.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, but transmission is believed to have been circulating undetected for some time before that.

— Marie-Roseline BelizaireProviding context on the timeline of the Ebola outbreak.

Belizaire highlighted challenges, including patients seeking care from traditional healers or delaying treatment by staying home before reaching health facilities. She confirmed a significant increase in treatment capacity, from zero beds to over 500. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.

So far, there have been 896 confirmed cases and 232 confirmed deaths, including 21 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.

— WHOReporting the latest statistics on the Ebola outbreak.

As of the latest figures, the outbreak has resulted in 896 confirmed cases and 232 confirmed deaths, with 21 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The majority of cases, over 90%, are concentrated in the conflict-affected Ituri province, but the virus has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu. WHO figures show 78 people have recovered, underscoring the impact of timely diagnosis and healthcare access.

More than 90% of cases are concentrated in conflict-hit Ituri province, though the virus has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu.

— WHODetailing the geographical spread of the Ebola outbreak.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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