Medical teams are being rushed to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a fast-moving Ebola outbreak that has already caused dozens of suspected deaths and raised fears of wider regional spread.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after cases were confirmed beyond the DRC’s borders, including in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Health officials say the outbreak may have killed around 80 people in recent weeks. So far, eight cases have been laboratory-confirmed, with more than 200 suspected infections reported in Ituri province, where the outbreak appears to be centred.
Experts say the outbreak’s late detection has allowed the virus to spread more quickly than usual. Another case has been reported in the eastern city of Goma, in neighbouring North Kivu province, raising concerns about further transmission.
A delegation led by Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba has arrived in Bunia, the capital of Ituri, to coordinate the response. Emergency measures include the deployment of treatment tents to relieve pressure on local hospitals.
“This is not a mystical disease,” Kamba said, urging people to report symptoms early to reduce the risk of further spread.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which differs from the more common Zaire variant. Unlike that strain, there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, complicating efforts to contain the virus.
WHO officials say medical supplies are being mobilised, with stocks of protective equipment in the capital, Kinshasa, already depleted. Additional supplies are being prepared for shipment from regional stockpiles.
Aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Rescue Committee, have dispatched teams to affected areas.
The response is taking place in a region already affected by armed violence and humanitarian crisis. Recent clashes between rival armed groups in Ituri have worsened conditions and made it harder for health workers to reach affected communities.
Previous Ebola outbreaks in eastern DRC have also faced challenges due to distrust of authorities and aid workers. Between 2018 and 2020, a major outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri killed nearly 2,300 people, becoming the second deadliest on record.
Local officials say the current outbreak may have been triggered by a funeral gathering in mid-April, with cases rising sharply afterwards.
Uganda has already taken precautionary steps, postponing a major national religious gathering that typically attracts thousands of visitors from eastern DRC.
Meanwhile, reports suggest some foreign nationals in the region may have been exposed to the virus, although these claims have not been independently confirmed.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials and has an average fatality rate of around 50 per cent, according to the WHO.
Health experts warn that weakened disease surveillance systems, partly due to declining international funding, may have contributed to the delayed response.
“With weaker surveillance, diseases like Ebola can spread further and faster before being detected,” said Lievin Bangali of the International Rescue Committee.
Authorities say containing the outbreak will depend on rapid detection, community cooperation and sustained international support.
With cases already crossing borders, there are growing fears that the outbreak could expand further if it is not brought under control quickly.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a pre...
Curaçao celebrate first World Cup goal despite heavy defeat against Germany, Sweden move to top of Group F with five-goal display and Japan fight...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would ban social media sites for under-16s and impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming p...
Monday 15th June, marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, a landmark agreement that formally elevated relations between ...
The stepson of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon has been found guilty of two counts of rape as well as domestic violence and other crimes and is sentenced...
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that significant “blind spots” remain in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising concerns that the true scale of infections may not yet be fully understood.
A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola while on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from a hospital in Germany, according to officials.
China is sending doctors, medical teams and emergency supplies to help combat a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, joining an international effort to contain the disease before it spreads further.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola while on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from a hospital in Germany, according to officials.
Protesters in Nanyuki blocked roads and burned tyres after residents challenged a U.S. plan to house Americans exposed to Ebola at a nearby military base.
Global health organisation CEPI will provide around $60 million to Moderna and two other partners to speed up the development of vaccines targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, which is currently driving an outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be significantly larger than official figures suggest, following a visit to the country where he briefed President Felix Tshisekedi on the ongoing response.
Four nurses have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment