The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Tuesday he was “deeply concerned” about the “scale and speed” of the Ebola outbreak spreading through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and into Uganda. Speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, he said the outbreak warranted serious concern as cases and deaths continue to rise.
Authorities in Congo report an estimated 131 to 136 deaths and more than 500 suspected cases linked to the outbreak, which is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain. Unlike other Ebola variants, Bundibugyo has no approved vaccine or treatment. The WHO declared the surge a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday and convened its emergency committee on Tuesday to assess response options.
The outbreak has spread to urban areas including Goma in Congo and Kampala in Uganda, and cases have been reported among health workers, raising fears of healthcare-associated transmission. Insecurity and population displacement in Ituri province have further complicated response efforts. WHO officials said patient zero has not yet been identified, and limited diagnostic capacity means most figures remain based on suspected cases.
A vaccine candidate called Ervebo is under consideration, but WHO’s representative in Congo said it would take at least two months to become available. Emergency medical supplies and experts have arrived in affected areas, while the Africa CDC has also declared the outbreak a continental public health emergency to mobilize additional resources.h
