WHO warns Congo Ebola outbreak far from controlled as cases rise across six provinces
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8 days · 5 summary articles
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has now infected 5,021 people and killed 2,378 since it was declared on May 15, according to the World Health Organization’s Africa regional office. The case fatality rate stands at 47.4%, with more than 1,000 patients reported as recovered by Congolese health authorities .
The outbreak, Congo’s 17th, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. Clinical trials of two antiviral therapies began in early July, and authorities are investigating whether the virus may have mutated .
Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa CDC, said the actual number of cases may be higher, as studies suggest the outbreak may have begun as early as February. “We have no idea what happened between February and May,” Kaseya stated, noting that all current data covers only the period since May. Nearly two-thirds of confirmed Ebola deaths occur outside hospitals or isolation wards, often in villages, increasing transmission risks through contact with bodily fluids .
The WHO’s emergency manager, Thierno Balde, said the outbreak could be contained within three months if sufficient resources are mobilized. The WHO has so far raised about 60% of the $115 million it seeks for the response .
The outbreak has spread across six provinces in eastern Congo, with Ituri among the hardest-hit areas. Trish Newport, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, emphasized the need for greater community engagement, stating, “People need to know what the signs and symptoms are and what to do if they get sick” .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the epidemic is “far from being controlled” and poses a “high risk of international spread.” The WHO currently assesses the public health risk as “very high” for Congo, “high” for neighboring Uganda and other bordering countries, and “low” for the rest of Africa and the world .
The European Commission announced it is purchasing rapid diagnostic tests worth €2.5 million to support the response . The U.N. has allocated an additional $30.5 million and deployed 20 more staff to assist in containment efforts .
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WHO says Congo Ebola outbreak can still be brought under control within three months reut.rs/4gqeJRg
bluesky_Reuters · about 3 hours ago
Lépidémie dEbola en RDC est « loin dêtre maîtrisée » et il existe un « risque élevé dune propagation internationale » Actuellement, lOMS juge le niveau de risque pour la santé publique « très élevé » pour la RDC, « élevé » pour lOuganda et les autres pays frontaliers de la RDC, et « faible » pour le reste de lAfrique et du monde.
le monde · about 3 hours ago
Ebola im Kongo: Bereits mehr als 5.000 bestätigte Ebola Fälle im Kongo Wann kommt der Ebola-Ausbruch im Kongo unter Kontrolle? Die Zahl der Erkrankten und Toten steigt schnell. Seit Mai sind bereits mehr als 5.000 Fälle bestätigt.
handelsblatt · about 3 hours ago
Ebola: EU provides 2.5 million euros for rapid diagnostic tests Brussels – Although media attention has waned, the Ebola outbreak continues to spread. In response to the current outbreak in Bundibugyo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Commission today (18 August) announced it is purchasing diagnostic tests worth a total of 2.5 million euros to combat the disease. With the support of the European Executive […]
eunews.it · about 3 hours ago
Ebola in DRC: Deadliest outbreak on record outpacing the response Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević. His central concern is that we do not yet know where all the places the Ebola virus is circulating: infected people remain outside treatment centres, transmission chains go undetected, and patients who seek care too late face much poorer chances of survival. Conflict, population mobility and other humanitarian pressures make surveillance more difficult, but community engagement is equally crucial. Without trust and cooperation, testing, contact tracing, safe burials and early treatment cannot work effectively.
france24 · about 3 hours ago
WHO expects DR Congo Ebola under control in 3 months The World Health Organization (WHO) believes the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo can be brought under control within three months if the necessary resources are available, says WHO emergency manager Thierno Balde. A lack of resources remains an issue, as the WHO has raised only around 60 percent of the 115 million dollars sought for […]
cphpost · about 3 hours ago
Epidemia de Ébola no Congo está "longe de estar controlada" O vírus do Ébola transmite-se por contacto direto com fluidos corporais de pessoas ou animais infetados
observador · about 3 hours ago
Mehr als 5000 bestätigte Ebola-Fälle im Kongo – Sterberate liegt bei fast 50 Prozent „Wir haben keine Ahnung, was zwischen Februar und Mai passiert ist: Im Kongo grassiert Ebola, viele Tote sterben zu Hause. Für den Erreger-Typ existiert weder ein Impfstoff noch eine spezielle Therapie.
welt.de · about 3 hours ago
Hälfte der Fälle endet tödlich: Schon mehr als 5000 bestätigte Ebola-Fälle in Kongo Die Zahl der an Ebola erkrankten Personen in Kongo steigt immer weiter, wie die Weltgesundheitsorganisation mitteilt. Gegen den Erreger gibt es weder Impfstoff noch Therapie.
faz · about 3 hours ago
Ebola outbreak in Congo becomes countrys worst as virus spreads at exceptional pace Congos latest Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,300 people, making it the deadliest outbreak of the disease ever recorded in the country.
euronews · about 3 hours ago