Key facts
- Ebola has caused over 1,700 deaths and nearly 4,000 cases in eastern Congo.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is in Congo to support the response.
- The outbreak is spreading faster than containment efforts, with most new cases outside monitored contacts.
- The Bundibugyo virus lacks approved treatments or vaccines.
- Rebel conflict and unpaid wages for health workers hinder response efforts.
The head of the World Health Organization has arrived in Congo to bolster efforts against the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak, which has now reached nearly 4,000 confirmed cases and claimed over 1,700 lives. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with partners and President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, marking his second visit since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
According to the latest data from Congo's Ministry of Health, the outbreak reached 3,874 cases, including 1,751 deaths as of Monday. This epidemic is the second-largest on record, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, and is notable for its rapid transmission rate. The specific virus strain, Bundibugyo, currently has no approved treatment or vaccine.
Challenges to containment are significant, with Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya noting that 60-70% of new cases are occurring outside of monitored contacts, indicating widespread community transmission. Many areas in Ituri province, the epicenter accounting for about 90% of cases, remain inaccessible due to ongoing rebel conflict. Health workers have also faced issues with unpaid wages, though some have recently received payments after strikes and ultimatums.
Late detection of cases, coupled with these security and logistical hurdles, contributes to a high fatality rate. In the 24 hours prior to the latest update, 77 new cases and 44 deaths were reported. Despite these difficulties, a study on two potential Ebola treatments has begun in Ituri province.