The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it’s extending its alert level for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to rising cases and deaths.
The designation of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern is the highest alert for infectious diseases.
The disease has claimed more than 2 300 lives and infected nearly 5 000 others in northeastern DRC since mid-May.
The disease has spread rapidly since May, and the number of deaths has now surpassed the fatalities from the country’s previous worst Ebola outbreak between 2018 and 2020.
Health experts say the delay in detecting cases, coupled with insecurity and mistrust from some community members, has made it difficult to contain the outbreak.
The WHO is calling for a more coordinated international response to slow the spread of the disease.
The Ebola virus in eastern and northeastern DRC is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
Health workers have been providing patients with treatments to manage symptoms like headache, fever and vomiting.
Scientists in the United Kingdom and Canada are conducting clinical trials for experimental vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, but it will take time before any are approved for use.
Health experts have appealed for more funding to intensify all aspects of the Ebola response as they work to try to end the outbreak.
–SABC/Chris Ocamringa–
