© WHO A patient receives treatment for Ebola at one of the specialized centers in DR Congo. DR Congo: more than two thousand people have died from Ebola amid the rapid spread of the virus Healthcare
The number of deaths from Ebola fever, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has exceeded two thousand, with half of the deaths occurring in the last 20 days. This was reported by the UN with reference to the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The current Ebola outbreak was declared by DRC health authorities on May 15th. Two days later, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
More than four thousand cases have now been confirmed. The current outbreak is the second largest and fastest growing in monitoring history. Only the 2014–2016 West African epidemic was larger, killing more than 11,000 people.
Just three months into the current outbreak, the death toll is already approaching that of the 2018–2020 epidemic.
Concerns about virus mutation
As the virus spreads rapidly, local health officials recently expressed concerns that it could mutate. The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to discuss the threat of a possible mutation of the virus.
There are no approved vaccines or treatments yet. Vaccine trials have been approved in Canada and the UK, but results are likely to be months away. Clinical trials of treatments for the disease are underway in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The UN’s senior coordinator for Ebola in the DRC, Julien Harnais, said aid workers, organizations, governments, donors and local communities “must do more” and act more quickly to save lives.
Violence and geography make the fight against outbreak
Efforts to combat the outbreak are hampered by ongoing violence in the remote and mineral-rich region. The lack of accessible health care for vulnerable populations is also a challenge.
“We continue to support the response with our partners, but our work is hampered by the lack of a safe environment,” UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Tuesday.
At least 12 health facilities treating patients with Ebola. This is largely due to fear, misinformation and deep local mistrust of outside actors.
Additional challenges are posed by the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC between the country’s armed forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 group.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an attack on The village of Banana Ecole in Ituri province killed at least 13 civilians, several more were kidnapped, and houses were burned. More than 28 thousand people fled from their homes. According to media reports, the attack was likely carried out by a local group affiliated with Daesh (ISIS).