Arabic version: تفشي الإيبولا في جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وأوغندا يثير تنبيهًا صحيًا عالميًا

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are 906 suspected cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including 223 suspected deaths that are being investigated. The outbreak, primarily affecting the eastern regions of the DRC, poses a significant challenge to health authorities, with cases also emerging in Uganda. According to ABC News, the WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

In the DRC, there have been 125 confirmed cases, including 17 confirmed deaths across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The situation in Uganda includes nine confirmed cases, with at least three believed to have originated from the DRC, and one reported death. However, the WHO has indicated that no community transmission has yet been detected in Uganda.

The lack of approved vaccines or therapies specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain has raised alarm among health experts. The WHO has noted that the outbreak went undetected for an extended period, complicating efforts to trace and isolate infected individuals. The fatality rate among confirmed cases ranges from 30% to 50%, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Dr. Anais Legand from the WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme emphasized the importance of early care in reducing fatality rates. She also confirmed that the first recovered patient was discharged from a health center in the DRC after receiving two negative tests. The WHO is enhancing its testing capacity to manage the backlog of suspected cases, although the number of suspected cases is expected to continue rising as surveillance improves.

While investigations are ongoing, Dr. Legand cautioned against concluding whether the peak of the outbreak has passed, indicating that further data is required to make an informed assessment.