Key facts
- The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo may be the worst ever, according to the Africa CDC.
- Over 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain have been reported, with 192 fatalities.
- The epidemic has not yet peaked and could last for a year, a Red Cross official stated.
- Response efforts are hampered by insufficient resources for contact tracing, a lack of treatment centers, and community resistance.
- The Africa CDC is seeking $518 million for a joint plan with the WHO to contain the outbreak.
The head of Africa's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the Ebola outbreak in Congo could be the worst ever, echoing projections by the U.S. CDC and stating that critical weaknesses in the response must be addressed quickly to prevent it from becoming worse than the West Africa epidemic of 2014-2016 or a less deadly 2018 outbreak in Congo.
Over 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain have been reported in Congo, with 192 fatalities. The disease is spreading rapidly across three provinces. The response has been hampered by a lack of treatment centers, difficulties in tracking transmission chains, and community resistance to stringent hygiene measures. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies teams have faced verbal abuse, threats, and attacks while assisting with community engagement and safe burials.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya highlighted insufficient resources for tracing contacts of confirmed cases, stating only 12% of contacts are being followed. He also noted major shortages in burial teams and personal protective equipment. The Africa CDC is seeking $518 million for a joint plan with the World Health Organization to contain the outbreak, warning that delays could escalate costs significantly.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an increase in his country's pledge to fight Ebola to $13.5 million, and China also indicated it would provide more emergency support.