Ebola risk in Congo now ‘very high’, WHO warns
politico.eu • • health
Key Points:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the Ebola risk level in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to "very high" due to rapid disease spread and attacks on treatment centers in conflict-affected regions.
- There are 82 confirmed Ebola cases and seven deaths in the DRC, but the actual numbers are likely higher with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths; neighboring Uganda has reported two cases and one death.
- Security challenges in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, including an attack on a treatment center by locals upset over burial restrictions, are complicating containment efforts, with WHO emphasizing the need to build community trust.
- The WHO plans to test the antiviral drug Obeldesivir against the Bundibugyo virus, a promising treatment candidate, though trial timelines remain uncertain amid ongoing discussions.
- Despite the UN releasing $60 million to combat the outbreak, WHO officials stress the importance of investing in disease prevention and oppose travel bans, urging countries to focus on humanitarian access and solidarity.