Serious concerns have been raised by the World Health Organisation due to the scale and speed of the deadly outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
WHO has warned that the crisis could continue for the coming months. Infections can rapidly spread across conflict hit-regions.
The rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus is causing the outbreak. The new outbreak has already killed 130 people and also affected hundreds of people.
The scale of the spread has forced WHO to declare it an international health emergency.
Samuel Roger Kamba, Congolese Health Minister explained that the authorities have recorded around 543 suspected cases. According to him 136 deaths have also been traced to Ebola.
The dangerous thing about this outbreak that there is currently no approved treatment or vaccine available for the Bundibugyo strain.
WHO officials, however revealed that a vaccine candidate called Ervebo is being considered. However, it will take about two months to make it available.
Currently the outbreak is mainly limited to the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Both these areas are heavily affected by poor health infrastructure and armed conflict.
Abandoned treatment centres are now reopening by medical teams in cities such as Goma. In affected areas infection-prevention kits, emergency supplies and tents continue arriving in affected areas.
Local health workers, however, warned that hospitals remain underprepared, with shortages of protective gear and proper isolation facilities increasing the risk of transmission.
The virus has already crossed borders into Uganda, where officials confirmed two Ebola-related cases involving Congolese nationals.
The United States has started screening travellers arriving from affected regions and temporarily suspended visa services. It also advised citizens to avoid travel to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.
The DRC has faced 17 Ebola outbreaks over the last 50 years. Its deadliest outbreak, between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people from around 3,500 recorded cases.
Also read: WHO declares Ebola outbreak a global health emergency
