WHO Warns of Worsening Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo as Cases Rise and Spread to Uganda
WHO Warns of Worsening Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo as Cases Rise and Spread to Uganda
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is worsening, citing a sharp increase in infections, a rising death toll, and the spread of cases into neighboring Uganda.
According to the WHO, the DRC has recorded 1,460 confirmed Ebola cases and 452 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of about 31 percent. The agency said the country recently experienced its highest weekly number of infections since the outbreak began.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohammed Yacoub Janabi said the outbreak is the largest recorded involving the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. He noted that transmission continues in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, with cases reported across 36 health zones in three provinces.
The WHO said nearly three-quarters of Ebola-related deaths have occurred outside healthcare facilities, indicating that many patients are reaching treatment centers too late or not at all.
The agency also confirmed that the outbreak has spread to Uganda, where 20 confirmed cases have been reported, including 15 linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC.
The WHO called for strengthened disease surveillance, rapid response measures, and enhanced cross-border cooperation to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread, warning that the regional public health risk remains high.
