Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), recently briefed journalists in Geneva after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In his briefing, he expressed optimism and hope for the ongoing efforts to combat the deadly Ebola epidemic in the region. He commended the commitment of the DRC government in addressing the outbreak, which has also spread to neighboring Uganda.
“The outbreak had a big head start, and we’re still behind, but under the leadership of the Government of DRC, we are catching up,” Tedros stated. His remarks were based on his observations during his visit to the affected areas in the DRC. He highlighted the challenges faced by the country in tackling the outbreak but also acknowledged the progress made in reducing the number of suspected cases.
According to Tedros, there have been 344 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, resulting in 60 deaths. However, the number of suspected cases has decreased significantly from over 1,000 to 116 as health teams continue to work through the backlog. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no specific treatment. Despite this, three vaccines are currently in development to combat the disease.
The epicenter of the outbreak is in the eastern province of Ituri, with cases also reported in North and South Kivu provinces. The situation is further complicated by ongoing violence by armed groups, other health threats like malaria, and the dire humanitarian needs of the affected populations. To address the crisis, three Ebola treatment centers are now operational in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, with a total capacity of 80 beds. Additional treatment units have been established in five other regional cities, with plans for more to be set up in the near future.
In neighboring Uganda, one confirmed death and 15 confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported. Among the cases is a Congolese resident who traveled from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Uganda. An American citizen who was infected in the DRC is currently receiving care in Germany. The WHO’s risk assessment remains high at the national and regional levels but low globally. Six individuals in the DRC and two in Uganda have successfully recovered from Ebola, underscoring the importance of timely access to healthcare.
Tedros emphasized the need to step up efforts to combat the outbreak, particularly in scaling up laboratory and diagnostic capacities to facilitate faster responses. Contact tracing, a crucial aspect of containing the spread of the virus, is challenging due to factors such as insecurity, displacement, and population movements. The current follow-up rate of approximately 45% needs to be increased to over 90% to effectively control the outbreak.
The WHO has urged countries that have implemented blanket travel restrictions to reconsider their measures, as these restrictions are disrupting supply chains and hindering response efforts. Instead, the organization recommends implementing exit screening at airports, ports, and border crossings to prevent the spread of the virus across borders.
Building trust with local communities is identified as a critical component in bringing the outbreak under control. Tedros stressed the importance of community engagement and communication to dispel myths and misinformation about the disease. By fostering trust and cooperation with the affected populations, health authorities can enhance their response efforts and effectively contain the epidemic.
As the situation continues to evolve, international collaboration and support are essential in addressing the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. The WHO, alongside other partners and stakeholders, remains committed to working towards ending the epidemic and preventing further spread of the virus. Through coordinated efforts and sustained commitment, it is hoped that the region can overcome this public health crisis and emerge stronger in the face of adversity.
