Kinshasa: The world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak is advancing more quickly than the efforts to combat it, according to World Health Organization's head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. During his visit to DR Congo, Tedros highlighted that the outbreak, now nearly three months in, is seeing new cases double in some areas, exacerbated by health workers striking over unpaid wages.
According to France24.com, Tedros met with officials in Kinshasa, marking his second visit since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. He emphasized the immediate need for a significant scale-up in response efforts across all levels and partners involved. As the DR Congo prepares to open its largest-ever Ebola treatment facility, government data on Wednesday showed that the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to 3,973, including 1,801 deaths.
In Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, the situation is further complicated by frontline workers striking, which has deteriorated already limited access to healthcare amid ongoing rebel conflict in the region. Some workers have recently received payment for their work since the outbreak began, although they continue to demand better wages. Anicet Baluku, a resident of Bunia, expressed grief over losing two brothers to Ebola, attributing their deaths to the strike, and urged authorities to resolve the issue swiftly.
The US Department of State announced on Wednesday an additional $242 million funding for immediate Ebola response and preparedness efforts, bringing total assistance to over $512 million. The outbreak's rapid transmission has surpassed all previous records except the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.
The Bundibugyo virus, with no approved treatment or vaccine, is believed to have started in a remote area before the outbreak was declared on May 15. The outbreak's spread remains alarming, with Doctors Without Borders stressing the need for a faster response to curb transmission.
Jean Kaseya, head of Africa Centers for Disease and Control, noted during a visit to Bunia that contact tracing is failing, with a significant percentage of new cases arising outside monitored contacts. With a fatality rate of 45 percent, late detection is a major issue, as shown by 44 fatalities among 77 recent cases within a 24-hour period. At least 717 patients are currently isolated, while 749 have recovered.
Kaseya, in discussions with Tedros, stated that Africa CDC is working on early detection, improved contact tracing, rapid care access, and deeper community engagement. Tedros urged for coordinated action under government leadership, emphasizing that community trust and involvement are crucial to stopping Ebola.