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WHO raises alarm as Bundibugyo virus outbreak nears 5,000 cases
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

WHO raises alarm as Bundibugyo virus outbreak nears 5,000 cases

From Vanguard · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the Bundibugyo virus epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is nearing 5,000 cases and has caused over 2,300 deaths.
  • WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the outbreak as spreading at an "unprecedented speed" and is far from being under control.
  • The epidemic's spread is fueled by insecurity and population movement, with cases confirmed in Uganda and France, though Uganda has controlled its initial spillover.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that the Bundibugyo virus epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is far from controlled, with infections approaching 5,000 and deaths exceeding 2,300. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the outbreak's rapid spread as "unprecedented speed," making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

We must be frank: the epidemic is far from being under control. It had a big head start, and we are still playing catch-up.

— Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusDescribing the current state of the Bundibugyo virus epidemic in the DRC.

Dr. Tedros highlighted that the epidemic has expanded across six provinces and 55 health zones, driven by insecurity, displacement, and significant population movement along various routes. He expressed particular concern over the number of deaths occurring outside formal treatment facilities and known contact lists, indicating potential unidentified transmission chains. "Every death like that points to a chain of transmission we have not yet found. Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue," he stated.

That’s why I call it unprecedented speed.

— Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusExplaining the rapid spread of the current Ebola outbreak.

The situation is exacerbated by population movement, posing a risk beyond the DRC's borders. While Uganda has successfully controlled an initial spillover, the virus has crossed international borders, with a traveler carrying it to France last month. Dr. Tedros commended Uganda's decisive response but noted that borders can slow, but not stop, a virus.

What concerns me most is where people are dying: at home, in their communities, outside treatment centres, and outside known contact lists.

— Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusHighlighting a worrying trend in the epidemic's mortality patterns.

In response, the DRC government, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and partners are intensifying efforts. These include bolstering community surveillance, expanding treatment capacity, supporting safe burials, and building community trust. Scientists are also accelerating vaccine and treatment development, with two new vaccines entering human trials.

Every death like that points to a chain of transmission we have not yet found. Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue.

— Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusExplaining the implications of deaths outside of known contact tracing.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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