WHO reports over 900 suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On May 24, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that the organization had recorded more than 900 suspected cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 101 confirmed cases.

Volunteers carry signs raising awareness about the Ebola outbreak during a community outreach campaign in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: AP.

According to the WHO, Ituri province – the epicenter of the outbreak – is facing serious insecurity. Violence has forced the evacuation of residents and healthcare workers, hindering contact tracing, testing, and case confirmation efforts.

According to UN News , the initial detection of infections was delayed. This was because testing in Bunia focused primarily on the more common Ebola Zaire strain, while cases caused by the Bundibugyo strain went undetected for weeks.

Given the complex developments of the epidemic, authorities in eastern Congo have intensified health checks at quarantine checkpoints around Bunia, particularly for people arriving from the mining town of Mongbwalu, which has been identified as the main epicenter of the outbreak.

The WHO warns that efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo are facing numerous obstacles due to insecurity, constant displacement of people, a weak healthcare system, a lack of specific vaccines, and cuts in international aid.

Thu Giang (According to AP)

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/who-ghi-nhan-hon-900-ca-nghi-nhiem-ebola-tai-congo-3408817.html