Ebola may be spreading faster than initially thought, says WHO
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be spreading more widely and rapidly than earlier believed, with possible transmission beyond the countryβs borders and into additional provinces. (Reuters)
According to Anne Ancia, a WHO representative, ongoing investigations suggest the outbreak has already spread, at least to some extent, across borders and into other parts of the country. She noted that Ituri province, identified as the epicentre of the outbreak, remains difficult to secure due to heavy population movement, complicating efforts to trace infections and contain the disease. (Gazeta Express)
Health officials also confirmed that the outbreak has spread to South Kivu province, a region already burdened by a prolonged humanitarian crisis. So far, the outbreak has claimed at least 131 lives, while more than 513 suspected Ebola cases have been recorded in DR Congo. One Ebola-related death has also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda, raising concerns over cross-border transmission. (Reuters)
The WHO recently declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern following consultations with authorities in DR Congo and Uganda, citing the increasing spread of the virus and heightened risks across borders. However, the agency said the situation has not yet reached the threshold of a pandemic emergency under international health regulations. (World Health Organization)
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, expressed concern over what he described as the βscale and speedβ of the outbreak. A modelling study released by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis suggested the actual number of infections may be far higher than official figures indicate, warning that there may already be more than 1,000 cases due to significant under-detection. (Reuters)
The study added that the outbreak could be considerably larger than currently recorded and that its true extent remains uncertain. Health experts also warned that the strain driving the outbreak, known as the Bundibugyo strain, currently has no approved vaccine, though the WHO is assessing whether existing treatments may offer some level of protection. (World Health Organization)
