The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited Bunia, a city in eastern Congo where a rare Ebola outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate. Despite improvements in health facilities and the arrival of new aid, the virus continues to advance swiftly. During his visit, Tedros plans to tour a treatment center, meet local authorities, health workers, and families affected by the outbreak.
Tedros emphasized the importance of supporting efforts to combat the disease at its source. He stated, “The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed.”
The latest WHO figures indicate 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. In Uganda, nine cases and one death have been confirmed. The current strain, known as the Bundibugyo virus, lacks approved treatments or vaccines.
After discussions with Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, Tedros expressed confidence in Congo’s ability to control the outbreak, citing the country’s previous experiences with the Ebola virus.
On Thursday, the European Union delivered medical aid to Ituri, the outbreak’s epicenter, with more assistance expected soon. The same day, the U.S. announced an additional $80 million in aid, raising its total support to over $112 million.
Health response efforts in Bunia’s Rwampara and General hospitals have seen improvements with extra staff, protective equipment, and medical supplies, although patients continue to arrive steadily, as observed by an Associated Press reporter.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) voiced their concerns about the response lagging behind the outbreak’s rapid spread. Dr. Alan Gonzalez, MSF’s deputy director of operations, stated, “Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration.” He urged for increased testing, quicker deployment of aid workers, and a steady supply of medical resources.
Health workers face heightened dangers, as tensions run high due to traditional burial rites conflicting with stringent medical protocols. This has resulted in at least three attacks on health centers. The response has also been hampered by conflicts involving the Allied Democratic Forces and ethnic militias in Ituri.
Ebola cases have also been reported in Congo’s North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, areas influenced by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, who control significant cities like Goma and Bukavu and have reported two cases.
Border closures and travel bans, including measures by Uganda, Rwanda, and the U.S. preventing entry from recent Congo visitors, are deemed ineffective by Tedros in controlling the outbreak. He advocated for countries to reconsider, highlighting that these actions hinder transparency in reporting efforts.
He remarked, “Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reporting the situation openly and transparently.”
Reporting from Dakar, Senegal, was conducted by Banchereau, while Associated Press reporter Saleh Mwanamilongo contributed from Bonn, Germany.