The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the Ebola epidemic has become the fastest-developing and second largest in history. The epidemic is spreading rapidly and poses a serious threat to the entire African continent. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

"Until every chain of transmission is detected and broken, the epidemic will continue and remain a threat to the DRC, its neighbors, and the entire region as a whole," he said at a press briefing in Geneva.

Death Toll and Infection Cases

The number of deaths from the fever in the DRC has exceeded 3,000, with more than 6,100 confirmed cases. Nearly one in two infected people dies (mortality rate about 48.5%).

Rare Strain

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus. The main danger is that there are currently no specialized approved vaccines or drugs with proven efficacy against it, although clinical trials of candidates are underway. The DRC has also begun using the Ervebo vaccine (developed for the Zaire strain), which has shown positive results.

Hidden Transmission Chains

WHO notes that many deaths occur among people who were not initially considered contacts. This indicates the presence of unaccounted transmission routes.

Epicenter

The epidemic has affected six Congolese provinces, with Ituri province remaining the epicenter. In neighboring Uganda, where cases were also previously recorded, the outbreak has been officially declared over.

Unsafe Burials

Many of the deceased are buried without following sanitary protocols, leading to infection of relatives and ceremony participants.

Funding Shortage

The international community is urged to accelerate funding. A full response plan for the next six months requires $1.3 billion.

Armed Conflict

In the affected regions of the DRC, internal conflicts have persisted for decades. This has led to a million displaced people, destruction of infrastructure, and regular attacks on medical centers and humanitarian missions.

Earlier, Kursiv reported that WHO warned of the threat of derailing the Ebola response due to lack of funds.