Key facts
- Nearly 300 people who tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo are unaccounted for.
- The World Health Organization projects approximately 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September.
- There is a 70% probability of the outbreak spreading to South Sudan.
- Access to over a million people in displacement camps is limited, impeding contact tracing.
- Ebola treatment centers are operating at 95% capacity, indicating the peak has not been reached.
The whereabouts of nearly 300 individuals who have tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain unknown, according to Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This situation is a significant concern for public health officials attempting to contain the outbreak.
Projections from the World Health Organization suggest a potential for approximately 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, also poses a 70% risk of spreading to neighboring South Sudan. To date, the DRC has recorded 1,118 confirmed cases and 291 deaths, with Uganda reporting 20 cases and two deaths.
Compounding the challenge, over one million people are living in displacement camps in conflict-affected areas, many of which health workers cannot access. This lack of access severely hinders contact tracing efforts, with Dr. Kaseya noting that 30% of new cases are among known contacts, indicating substantial community transmission. Authorities plan to recruit 20,000 community health workers to bolster these efforts.
Ebola treatment centers are reportedly at 95% bed occupancy, and the peak of the outbreak has not yet been reached. The total estimated cost to tackle the outbreak and its associated humanitarian needs is $1.4 billion, though only about 13% of the pledged funding has been received. Trials for potential treatments and preventative antivirals are scheduled to commence in the DRC next week.