Warnings of Ebola spread in Congo.. Central African Republic and South Sudan most vulnerable to outbreak - Sarmad
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, warned that the Central African Republic is now the country most at risk of an Ebola outbreak, followed by South Sudan.
Latest Congolese government data showed that the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history has expanded to two new health zones in eastern Congo, bringing the total number of affected areas to 60.
Health ministry data identified the two zones as Biena and Mangurudjiba in North Kivu province, where the case fatality rate exceeds the overall average of 48%, partly due to delayed response efforts.
The ministry stated that the outbreak has recorded 5,794 confirmed cases, including 2,786 deaths, with the virus spreading at an unprecedented pace that outstrips containment and slowing efforts.
The organization said the outbreak remains out of control and is expected to surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, the deadliest on record, which claimed more than 11,000 lives, mostly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Congo began on Thursday vaccinating health workers and field staff with the Ervebo vaccine, which has proven effective in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common strain. Clinical trials are ongoing to find a licensed vaccine for the current outbreak.
Although the outbreak was declared in mid-May, officials believe it has been spreading since February.
Containment efforts, including restrictions on gatherings, social distancing, and airport closures, have disrupted daily life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which is already grappling with armed conflict and rebel violence.
Although the government has introduced preventive measures, such as installing health equipment at certain sites, civil society organizations are calling for greater efforts to win the trust and cooperation of the population with medical teams.
Although neighboring Uganda declared itself free of the virus last month, the World Health Organization warned that the risk of cross-border transmission remains.
