Damien Mama, interim humanitarian coordinator in the DRC, arrived Sunday in the provincial capital, Bunia, where he will assess response efforts and strengthen coordination in support of the government-led campaign to end the latest deadly epidemic.
Increasing caseload
The rapid outbreak – which has also spread to neighboring Uganda – is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus which has no approved treatment or vaccines, although three candidate vaccines are in development.
The Congolese health authorities announced on Saturday 27 new confirmed casesbringing the total to 515 across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with 91 deaths.
About 95 percent of all cases are in Ituri, and 12 people have recovered to date.
Meanwhile Uganda has reported 19 confirmed casesincluding two deaths, as well as one probable case that has died.
Significant challenges
In New York, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the Ebola response in the DRC is focused on case management, running treatment centers and providing essential medicines and supplies, as well as community engagement, risk communication and strengthened surveillance.
However, he noted that “the effort continues to face significant challenges, including gaps in contact tracing, limited treatment capacity and shortages of essential medicines“, while “scaling up laboratory capacity is also essential to ensure timely detection and confirmation of cases.”
The health crisis is unfolding amid the already dire humanitarian situation in the DRC, where nearly 15 million people nationwide are in need of humanitarian assistance.
In addition, more than half of all displaced people, 3.4 million, live in areas affected by the outbreak, complicating the response.
Continental response plan
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 by the Congolese authorities and subsequently classified by the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern – but not a pandemic threat.
Symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, headache, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.
This is the 17th time the DRC has battled Ebola, and the crisis has sparked a coordinated continental response.
Last week, the WHO, together with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and partners, launched a plan to raise $518 million to support African countries to prepare for, rapidly detect and respond to the outbreak.
Assistance to Zambia
WHO has also handed over critical Ebola response equipment and supplies to authorities in Zambia, including personal protective equipment (PPE), laboratory reagents, infection prevention and control materials and sample transport supplies.
“Although Zambia has not recorded any Ebola cases, its proximity to affected countries and the high level of cross-border movement put it at potential risk,” the agency said.
WHO continues to emphasize the importance of preparedness as a first line of defense against Ebola, while highlighting the critical role that community engagement and timely reporting of symptoms play in saving lives.
