Congo-Kinshasa: Ebola Outbreak Spreads to 61 Health Zones in DRC - - Who

What the report says

The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to 61 health zones across six provinces, according to an update cited by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica. The affected provinces are Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo, with the latest expansion noted in Kayna Health Zone in North Kivu.

WHO said transmission remains a concern because the outbreak is still spreading in some areas despite response efforts. The agency pointed to delayed detection, limited access to early treatment and difficulty breaking chains of transmission as major problems. It said those conditions increase the risk of spread in households, communities and health facilities and reinforce the need for stronger surveillance, rapid response and earlier care.

As of 7 September, WHO said the DRC had recorded 6,757 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,267 deaths, a crude case fatality ratio of 48.3%. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. The report also said that unlike the Zaire strain, there is no licensed vaccine specifically approved for Bundibugyo virus disease.

The update adds to concern about one of the country’s largest Ebola outbreaks in recent years. WHO had previously described it as the second-largest on record and warned in August that some cases were being found outside known contact lists, suggesting hidden transmission chains. In general, Ebola control depends on contact tracing, safe burials, testing, treatment and community engagement.