The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, has said efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are beginning to match the pace of the disease’s spread.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Ghebreyesus said he recently visited the DRC, where he met with government officials, health authorities, development partners, ambassadors, frontline health workers, community representatives and traditional leaders to assess the response efforts.
According to him, the country has recorded 344 confirmed Ebola cases and 60 deaths across 24 health zones in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
He noted that the number of suspected cases has dropped significantly to 116 from more than 1,000 reported a week earlier, as health officials continue to clear a backlog of investigations and strengthen surveillance activities.
Also, the WHO chief also disclosed that Uganda has recorded one confirmed death and 15 confirmed Ebola cases linked to the outbreak, including a Congolese resident who travelled through the United Arab Emirates before entering Uganda.
Ghebreyesus further revealed that a United States citizen who contracted the virus in the DRC is currently receiving treatment in Germany.
Despite signs of progress, he said the WHO’s assessment of the outbreak remains unchanged, describing the risk level as high nationally and regionally but low globally.
He highlighted improvements in treatment capacity, noting that new Ebola treatment centres with an 80-bed capacity have been established in Budibugyo, while treatment units are operational in Mongalu, Raopara, Deni, Goma and Bukavu, with additional facilities expected to open soon.
The WHO director-general added that six patients have recovered in the DRC and two in Uganda, demonstrating that early diagnosis and access to proper medical care can significantly improve survival rates.
While acknowledging the progress made so far, Ghebreyesus stressed that several challenges remain as health authorities continue efforts to bring the outbreak under control.
