At a media briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that more than a month into the outbreak, Frontline responders have expanded care and testing at an unprecedented rate, but conditions on the ground remain challenging.
“It is encouraging to see that since the outbreak was first reported five weeks ago, the response has scaled up significantly,” he said.
In just over a month, treatment capacity has grown from fewer than 10 beds to more than 500 across 19 health centres, while laboratory testing capacity has increased from 30 daily tests in the capital, Kinshasa, to more than 2,000 tests each day across nine laboratories in three provinces.
Early diagnosis
Tedros said communities are increasingly seeking information and help to stay safe.
“More communities are becoming aware of the risks of Ebola and are asking for tools and support to protect themselveshe said.
More than 100 people have recovered so far, giving hope that early diagnosis and supportive treatment can save lives.
But the scale of the need remains enormous. “There is now 1,094 confirmed cases with 277 deaths,” Tedros said. “The outbreak continues to move rapidly.”
Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, with two confirmed deaths.
New treatments
WHO and partners are now preparing to launch a clinical trial next week in the DRC to test whether two antiviral treatments, MBP134 and remdesivir, can reduce mortality from Bundibugyo virus disease.
“We could save many more lives with therapy,” Tedros said.
Communities are actively consulted and informed about the trial process, and plans are underway to ensure that affected populations can access treatment if it proves effective.
Improving access
But beyond medicine, health officials warned that humanitarian conditions continue to undermine the response.
Tedros stressed that there is an urgent need for political action to improve humanitarian access and allow health teams to reach people in affected areas.
“Political advocacy and action are critical to creating the conditions for increased humanitarian access and a scaled-up responsehe said.
Risks faced by responders
The healthcare staff themselves have that paid a high price. On Wednesday, an aid worker in France with the medical NGO ALIMA tested positive for Ebola after returning from caring for patients in the DRC.
Almost 80 healthcare workers have been infected during the outbreak. “This case is a reminder of the risks frontline responders face,” Tedros said.
WHO encourages countries to support safe deployment measures for aid workers, including better risk communication, infection prevention and evacuation preparedness.
Despite isolated international cases linked to the outbreak, the agency maintains that the overall risk to the rest of the world remains low.
Obstacles continue
Major obstacles remain inside the affected region: contact tracing remains inadequate, treatment centers are under pressure, safe and dignified burials remain difficult to perform, border closures continue to slow operations and repeated security incidents complicate access.
The outbreak is unfolding against the backdrop of what Tedros described as a decades-long humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this month, WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan, requesting $518 million to strengthen efforts across affected areas and neighboring countries.
With updated funding data expected next week, aid agencies hope the international response will match the urgency experienced by communities still facing one of the region’s most serious public health emergencies.
