The rapid spread of Ebola in Democratic Republic of the Congo has created a “deeply alarming” situation, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as health authorities struggle to contain the outbreak.
Two weeks after the outbreak was declared, MSF Deputy Director Alan Gonzales warned that the number of cases is rising at an unprecedented pace.
“Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration,” Gonzales said, adding that response efforts have not yet caught up with the speed of transmission.
According to health officials, more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and at least 246 deaths have now been reported in DR Congo. Neighbouring Uganda has also confirmed nine cases and one death linked to the outbreak.
MSF said hundreds of samples remain untested, making it difficult to determine the true scale of the epidemic. New suspected infections are reportedly being identified every day.
The charity also highlighted major challenges affecting containment efforts, including border restrictions, airport closures and logistical difficulties in delivering humanitarian assistance.
The outbreak is centred in Ituri Province, where World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited this week to assess response measures and support local health authorities.
During his visit to the provincial capital, Bunia, Tedros stressed the importance of community participation in controlling the disease and urged people to avoid practices that could increase transmission risks.
He warned that traditional funeral practices involving physical contact with the bodies of Ebola victims can contribute to further spread of the virus.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated objects. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding and organ failure.
Health officials said laboratories in Bunia are now able to return test results within 24 hours, helping medical teams identify cases more quickly and begin treatment sooner.
Authorities continue to strengthen surveillance, testing and public awareness efforts as they work to prevent wider regional transmission.
