GENEVA/KAMPALA: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that the latest Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is spreading faster than response efforts, with suspected deaths rising to 220 and more than 900 suspected cases identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that delays in detecting infections had forced health authorities into “playing catch-up” as the epidemic expanded across multiple regions.
“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us,” Tedros said, urging countries bordering the DRC to take immediate preventive measures.
The epicentre of the outbreak is in the northeastern province of Ituri, but cases have since spread to neighbouring provinces and crossed into Uganda.
Health officials said infections have now been detected as far as 200 kilometres from the original outbreak zone.
Uganda reports new cases
Uganda on Monday confirmed two additional Ebola cases, bringing the country’s total number of infections to seven, including one death.
Uganda’s Health Ministry said the latest patients were health workers employed at a private medical facility in the capital, Kampala.
Authorities said both patients were receiving treatment while contact tracing operations were under way.
The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.
Last week, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern as fears mounted over further regional spread.
Africa health agency response
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned that several countries, including Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia, were at heightened risk.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said health ministers from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan had agreed on a coordinated cross-border response plan with an estimated budget of $319 million.
Speaking to the BBC, Kaseya said the strategy focused on improving isolation measures, case management and ensuring “dignified funerals” to limit transmission.
Red Cross volunteers have been carrying out safe burials under police protection in affected areas.
The organisation said three volunteers had died from suspected Ebola infections likely contracted while handling bodies.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an initial contribution of $5 million on Monday to support containment efforts, calling on other African nations to assist in preventing the outbreak from escalating further.
