Ebola deaths near 500 in DR Congo amid continued community transmission

Kinshasa, July 5 (IANS) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 1,528 confirmed Ebola cases, including 492 deaths, as the country’s latest outbreak continues to expand.

According to a situation report released Saturday by the DRC public health authorities, a total of 239 patients have recovered, while 628 confirmed patients are currently in isolation or hospitalisation. Authorities have also identified 185 suspected cases, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report said weekly confirmed cases have continued to rise, with epidemiological weeks 25 and 26 recording the highest levels so far, each exceeding 300 cases, indicating continued community transmission.

The report listed several major challenges, including community resistance to post-mortem sampling, insufficient capacity at Ebola treatment centers, especially in the eastern province of North Kivu, suboptimal contact tracing, delayed laboratory diagnosis, shortages of medical and infection-prevention supplies, insecurity and limited access in some affected areas.

Speaking at an online media briefing, WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said the situation remains serious, with transmission continuing in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Janabi said the current outbreak is the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever recorded, reports Xinhua news agency.

Pierre Akilimali, a WHO expert in the DRC, said the outbreak is occurring in areas affected by insecurity and armed group activities, making case detection and contact tracing difficult. Some affected areas in Ituri are mining zones, where frequent movement of people from outside has increased the risk of virus transmission.

The WHO said Thursday that a clinical trial had begun enrolling patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Sensasi, a WHO expert in Uganda, said the country had reported 20 confirmed cases as of Thursday, including 15 imported cases. The remaining five locally infected people were all detected while in quarantine, and no community transmission has been observed.

Uganda and the DRC have established a joint cross-border response mechanism and signed a memorandum of understanding, under which the two countries will share surveillance information and strengthen screening and treatment capacity in border areas, Sensasi said.

–IANS

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