The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than efforts to contain it, global humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned, calling for an urgent expansion of containment and care measures.
Official data shows the number of confirmed Ebola cases has tripled in less than five weeks to 1,926, including 702 deaths, as of Sunday. According to MSF, this makes it the third-largest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
The charity, which operates seven Ebola treatment centres and more than 15 isolation units across the country, said the geographical spread of the virus is causing particular alarm. Communities outside urban areas continue to face inadequate support, with limited access to medical care and an overstretched surveillance system, MSF said.
"Every delay costs lives. We are still chasing the outbreak instead of staying ahead of it," said Trish Newport, MSF's Emergency Programme Manager, urging more coordinated international action to improve Ebola care.
The often fatal viral disease spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals and causes symptoms including high fever, vomiting, and internal and external bleeding. This particular epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The World Health Organization said last week that the outbreak remained in an expansion phase, driven partly by population movements and delays in treatment. MSF has warned that surveillance, testing and safe, dignified burials all require additional resources.
Speaking to AnewZ's PrimeTime, Jonathan Ofayansa, publisher of Africa Briefing magazine, said the growing number of infections from unknown chains of transmission suggested health authorities could be "running behind the virus." He warned that when new patients cannot be linked to known cases, infections may be occurring outside the contact-tracing system, allowing people to unknowingly spread the virus between households, communities and healthcare facilities before Ebola is detected. Ofayansa added that the trend could mean the official case count reflects only part of the outbreak, underscoring the need for stronger community surveillance, faster laboratory testing and greater public trust so people seek treatment earlier.
In a stark assessment, Ayokunnu Raji, a medical doctor and MSF Medical Programme Manager working in the affected region, described the daily reality on the ground.
"In Mongbwalu, we are seeing the deadly human consequences of these gaps every day," he said, explaining that patients often arrive in critical condition with little chance of survival.
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that the administration in Washington is preventing American citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from travelling to the U.S. on commercial flights. The measure adds to the challenges facing those trying to leave the affected region.
MSF has stressed that, without a significant and immediate scaling up of the international response, the outbreak will continue to outpace containment efforts.
Kazakhstan has elected its first unicameral Kurultai, bringing into force a sweeping political overhaul launched less than a year ago. The vote mar...
Syrian and Israeli officials held U.S.-brokered talks in Jordan on Sunday to ease tensions after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase near Tü...
Uzbekistan is looking to Singapore as it builds a fintech ecosystem designed to attract global investment, technology companies and talent....
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that his party will introduce a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposal would allow fines of up to 10 per cent of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.
Icelanders will vote on Saturday, 29 August, on whether to resume negotiations with the European Union, in a referendum that could reopen the country’s long-debated membership question.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment