The latest Ebola outbreak, declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), is spreading at a rate that outpaces the efforts of health workers to contain it. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the outbreak, the WHO has elevated its national risk assessment from high to very high. Neighboring countries, including Uganda where five cases and one death have been confirmed, face particularly high risks.
Treatment Centers in Eastern DRC Targeted by Arson
Containment efforts are being significantly hampered, especially in the eastern DRC, due to local community distrust of external authorities. This distrust is substantially increasing the risk of disease transmission. In recent days, two treatment centers in the region, which has been experiencing intense fighting and the displacement of over 100,000 people, were set on fire.
Marie Roseline Belizaire, Director of Emergency Response for WHO Africa, informed UN News that these attacks are connected to misinformation campaigns circulating on social media. These campaigns are severely slowing down case investigations and limiting the ability of healthcare teams to reach affected communities.
Anger Over Ebola Burial Protocols Fuels Community Resistance
Strict protocols surrounding the burial of suspected Ebola victims have generated anger within the population. Authorities in northeastern DRC have banned funeral wakes involving more than 50 people. Armed soldiers and police have been present to guard burials conducted by health workers.
Dr. Belizaire stated that the WHO is collaborating with local traditional leaders and healers to enhance community engagement and improve the safety of external health workers. While families are permitted to mourn their loved ones, they are not allowed to touch the bodies to prevent virus transmission. “We offer the family protective equipment,” Dr. Belizaire explained, “so that they can assist in placing their loved one in a body bag and pray over them.”
No Approved Vaccines or Therapeutics Available for Bundibugyo Virus
Despite Ebola outbreaks occurring for nearly two decades, there are still no approved vaccines or therapeutics specifically for the Bundibugyo virus. The WHO has recommended prioritizing two antibodies in clinical trials and evaluating the antiviral obeldesivir in a clinical trial for high-risk contacts.
The UN health agency is urgently intensifying its operations on the ground. These efforts include contact tracing, establishing treatment centers, strengthening laboratory capacity, improving case management, infection prevention and control, and enhancing risk communication and community engagement. Approximately $3.9 million has been allocated from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support these measures.
