Kinshasa: The world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak is advancing more rapidly than containment measures, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced during a recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Health workers in the region have been striking due to issues with their pay, which is complicating efforts to manage the outbreak.
According to France24.com, nearly three months into the outbreak, new Ebola cases are doubling in some areas, as reported by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. During his second visit to DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, Tedros emphasized the urgent need for a substantial increase in efforts by all partners involved in the response.
The DR Congo government is planning to open its largest-ever Ebola treatment facility to address the crisis. The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country has risen to 3,973, with 1,801 deaths, according to government data released on Wednesday.
In Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, the healthcare situation is deteriorating as many frontline workers have gone on strike. This strike has further limited healthcare access in a region already affected by conflict and isolation, near the borders of South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. Some workers have recently received payments for their services since the outbreak began, but they continue to demand better wages.
Residents in affected areas are calling for swift government action to resolve the strike. Anicet Baluku, a resident of Bunia, attributed the deaths of his two brothers from Ebola to the strike and urged authorities to reach a resolution to prevent further tragedies.
The US Department of State announced additional funding of $242 million for immediate Ebola response and preparedness efforts in the region. This brings the total direct assistance to over $512 million.
This outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is now the second-largest on record, following the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. The virus has no approved treatment or vaccine, and it is believed to have begun in a remote area before being declared on May 15.
Doctors Without Borders highlighted the rapid and unprecedented rate at which the outbreak is spreading, noting that while the response is expanding, it is not yet sufficiently reaching communities to break transmission chains.
Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease and Control, reported difficulties with contact tracing, as a significant portion of new cases are not traceable to monitored individuals. Late detection of cases has contributed to a fatality rate of 45 percent.
Kaseya, after meeting with Tedros, stated that Africa CDC is focusing on improving early detection, contact tracing, and community engagement to address the outbreak.
Tedros emphasized the crucial role of community involvement in the response, stating that the outbreak cannot be stopped without the trust, leadership, and partnership of local communities.