WHO Director Visits Ebola Outbreak Area in Eastern Congo
On Saturday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, visited Bunia in eastern Congo, a city grappling with a rare Ebola outbreak. The virus is spreading more quickly than health responses can manage, despite improvements in facilities and the arrival of new aid.
Tedros plans to tour a treatment center and engage with local leaders, healthcare workers, and families affected by the outbreak.
“The best approach is to fully support efforts at the epicenter of the outbreak and ensure all needed assistance is being provided,” he stated to reporters on Friday.
Recent official statistics indicate 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths, though actual numbers could be three to four times higher, according to reports.
In Uganda, nine cases have been confirmed along with one death, as announced by the health ministry there.
Current Ebola Strain Lacks Treatment or Vaccine
The Bundibugyo virus, the strain currently circulating, does not have an approved treatment or vaccine.
“This is undoubtedly a challenging situation, but the Democratic Republic of Congo has confronted Ebola before, and I believe it can regain control over this outbreak,” Tedros remarked after discussions with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
Last week, the WHO raised its national risk assessment to “very high,” noting the rapid spread of the outbreak.
Recent medical aid shipments from the European Union arrived in Ituri, the heart of the outbreak, with additional deliveries anticipated soon. The U.S. has also committed an extra $80 million in aid, totaling over $112 million in support.
Response Efforts Lag Behind Outbreak Pace
Efforts at local hospitals in Bunia appear better organized now, with more staff and medical supplies, but patients continue to arrive non-stop, as noted by a reporter from The Associated Press.
Doctors Without Borders has cautioned that response efforts have not matched the rapid spread of this outbreak.
“This is unprecedented in terms of the number of cases emerging shortly after being declared,” Dr. Alan Gonzalez of MSF stated, emphasizing the need for more testing, quicker deployment of aid workers, and consistent access to medical supplies.
The safety of health workers has been threatened by local anger towards the strict protocols for handling victims, which clash with traditional burial customs. This has led to several attacks on health centers.
Additionally, violence from the Allied Democratic Forces, an extremist rebel group, and other local militias has complicated the response. Infections have also been reported in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the M23 rebel group controls key areas.
Concerns Over Border Closures
In response to the outbreak, Uganda and Rwanda have closed their borders with Congo. However, Tedros argued on Friday that such measures do little to prevent the spread. “These actions tend to undermine transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is managing the situation openly,” he shared, urging countries to rethink these positions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that no Ebola patients will be allowed into the U.S. and that entry will be restricted for non-U.S. citizens who have recently visited certain countries.
Airports in the U.S., including JFK in New York and others, are conducting enhanced health screenings for travelers, with symptoms potentially leading to further evaluation and treatment.
On Friday, a Kenyan High Court judge temporarily blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in the country.
