More Than 900 Suspected Ebola Cases Identified in DRC, WHO Says

More than ​900 ‌suspected Ebola cases, ​including ​101 confirmed ⁠cases, ​have ​been identified in the ​Democratic ​Republic of ‌Congo, the ⁠World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom ​Ghebreyesus ​said ​Sunday.

The Congolese ministry of communication, in a post on X on Sunday, said there were 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths.

Authorities had previously announced more than 700 suspected Ebola cases and more than 170 suspected deaths, mostly in Ituri province, where the outbreak is centred.

WHO has said the outbreak now poses a “very high” risk for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but that the risk of the disease spreading globally remains low.

Health authorities in the country are facing serious challenges as they try to stem the outbreak, which has been declared a global health emergency.

There are concerns the disease might spread to the large displacement camps near the city of Bunia, where the first cases were reported.

Health experts say international aid cuts last year by the US and other rich nations were devastating for eastern Congo because of its multiple problems.

The cuts “reduced the capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks”, said Thomas McHale, public health director at Physicians for Human Rights. Congo has had more than a dozen previous Ebola outbreaks.

Aid groups fighting this outbreak on the ground say they don’t have the equipment they need, such as face shields and suits to protect health workers from infection, testing kits, and body bags and other materials needed to safely bury the bodies of those who have died, which can be highly contagious.

“We have made requests to different partners, but we have not yet really received anything,” said Julienne Lusenge, president of Women’s Solidarity for Inclusive Peace and Development, an aid group operating a small hospital near Bunia. 

“We only have hand sanitiser and a few masks for the nurses,” she added.

The Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus responsible for the outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment.