'WHO': 'Ebola' outbreak expands in the Democratic Republic of Congo... with nearly half of patients dying

- Confirmed case registered in Nigeria... WHO urges enhanced preparedness without imposing travel restrictions

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expanding, with new clusters detected in remote areas, alongside a confirmed case in Nigeria involving a woman who recently returned from Uganda, which had previously declared the end of the outbreak within its borders.

Catherine Smallwood, the WHO’s lead official for the Ebola response, stated during a press conference in Geneva that the infection has spread to wide geographical areas, some of which are difficult to access due to security and logistical challenges, complicating efforts to contain the disease and deliver medical aid to affected regions.

She noted that the number of confirmed cases in the DRC has reached 9,765, with approximately half of the infected individuals having died. Meanwhile, health teams continue to monitor around 30,000 contacts of confirmed cases daily.

Smallwood highlighted that the number of recovered patients has risen to over 2,600, reflecting progress in health response efforts, despite ongoing challenges hindering containment and control operations.

She emphasized the need to strengthen funding and provide medical, logistical, and nutritional support, as well as to enhance local response capacities and accelerate early detection of cases, particularly in areas affected by conflict, displacement, and food insecurity.

Regarding Nigeria, WHO acting spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that health authorities confirmed on October 20 the infection of a woman with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus after her recent travel to Uganda.

He added that epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify the source of infection, verify the patient’s movements, trace her contacts, and place them under health surveillance to prevent further transmission of the virus.

Lindmeier reiterated the WHO’s call for countries in the region to raise preparedness levels and strengthen epidemiological surveillance and health screening at border crossings and entry points, stressing that the organization does not recommend imposing travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by the outbreak.