News Summary
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- Ebola infection in Congo has been confirmed in 8,728 people with 4,205 deaths, spreading across 64 health zones in seven provinces.
- After the first confirmed case of Ebola transmission from Congo to Kenya, 55 individuals are under surveillance, with cooperation ongoing between Congo, Uganda, and Kenya to trace contacts.
- WHO and the Africa CDC emphasize health screening, rapid detection, and information sharing over travel bans.
Kinshasa, October 10 (Xinhua/RAS) – While Ebola infections have declined in some areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the emergence of new infection hotspots and spread to neighboring countries pose additional challenges to controlling the epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have urged careful interpretation of the decline in case numbers.
According to Congolese health officials, as of October 6, 8,728 cases of Ebola infection have been confirmed, resulting in 4,205 deaths. Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, the disease has spread across 64 health zones in seven provinces.
Africa CDC official Bessam Mankalaka reported that in the past three weeks, infections have decreased by 24 percent in the Ituri province and 19 percent in North Kivu. However, insecurity and lack of cooperation from local communities have hindered monitoring and data collection, potentially obscuring the true situation. Of the 64 affected health zones, 47 still report active transmission. Authorities noted that 60 to 70 percent of Ebola deaths occur outside health facilities, and identifying contacts of infected individuals remains challenging.
Meanwhile, the confirmation of the first imported Ebola case in Kenya has heightened regional risk. The infected individual was a 40-year-old Kenyan businessman residing in Congo who fell ill in September and traveled through Uganda to Nairobi on October 3. He died on Monday. Kenyan authorities have placed 55 people under surveillance, including passengers and crew from the flight between Kampala and Nairobi. Congo, Uganda, and Kenya are cooperating to identify contacts of the infected individual.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged improvements in surveillance and community collaboration but noted that contact tracing remains insufficient. He applauded Kenya for promptly reporting the infection and stressed the importance of encouraging transparency without penalizing those who come forward. Both health organizations stress focusing on health screening, rapid case identification, and sharing information rather than imposing travel restrictions.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment specifically against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain. Preliminary trials of an Oxford University-developed vaccine began in Uganda on October 6, while another vaccine developed by Moderna has received ethical clearance for testing.
Although Congo has received 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine approved against the Zaire Ebola virus, its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain remains unproven. By October 7, 7,775 healthcare workers and frontline responders have been vaccinated. An additional 848 individuals have received the vaccine under a research program that has since been suspended due to supply shortages. Experimental treatments are currently being tested with 654 participants enrolled.
According to Africa CDC, this is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. It is the second largest globally and the biggest ever recorded in Congo. As the humanitarian crisis persists, officials highlight the urgent need to enhance control efforts.
