WHO: 1,700 Ebola patients recover as infections decline in Democratic Republic of the Congo
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced today encouraging indicators of progress in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting the recovery of 1,700 patients and a decline in transmission in the most affected areas of Ituri province.
Speaking at a press conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Ghebreyesus clarified that South Kivu province has also recorded no new cases since last May, confirming that after four months, the outbreak is largely contained in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, Ghebreyesus emphasized that the outbreak continues to spread in many other areas and is claiming lives, noting that more than 7,200 cases and over 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces.
He stated that the decline in transmission in Ituri does not signify its end, as approximately 300 new cases and 160 deaths were recorded in the province alone during the past week, accounting for nearly half of the national total.
Ghebreyesus added that cases are rising at an even faster pace in North Kivu, pointing out that the weekly case count has nearly doubled over the past two weeks, from around 100 to more than 200 cases.
He highlighted the challenges of managing the outbreak due to the vastness of the region and the diversity of conditions, ranging from major cities like Kisangani, with a population of approximately 1.5 million, to remote villages, conflict and mining areas, and sparsely populated regions near the border with South Sudan.
He noted that high population movement in the region means the outbreak remains capable of spreading, while pointing to the difficulties in accessing many areas.
Ghebreyesus stressed that key indicators have not yet improved, calling for the continuation and strengthening of response efforts in the coming months. He urged donors to ensure full funding for both the government’s response plan and the broader humanitarian response plan.
