Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Reaches Fastest Spread Rate
The World Health Organization announced that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-spreading epidemic, sharing figures on cases and deaths.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-spreading epidemic seen to date, announcing that the number of cases has exceeded 6,000 and deaths have surpassed 3,000.
Global Assessment Meeting
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with journalists who are members of the Association of Accredited Press Correspondents at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Dimensions and Epicenter of the Outbreak
Ghebreyesus noted that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the second-largest on record and the fastest-spreading epidemic seen to date, stating that the number of cases has exceeded 6,000 and deaths have surpassed 3,000.
Emphasizing that the outbreak has affected 60 health zones across six provinces, Ghebreyesus reported that Ituri province continues to be the epicenter, accounting for 85 percent of cases and 88 percent of deaths.
Factors Fueling Transmission
It was stated that the majority of deaths occur outside treatment centers and that unsafe burials are fueling transmission.
It was expressed by Ghebreyesus that the outbreak will continue until unknown chains of transmission are broken.
Response and Vaccination Efforts
The WHO, in partnership with the DRC government and Africa CDC, has expanded the response by deploying over 330 tons of emergency supplies and more than 300 experts.
Additionally, it was reported that vaccine trials against the Bundibugyo virus are ongoing.
Other Global Crises
In his statement, Ghebreyesus also drew attention to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, rising health risks, and the flood disaster on the Nepal-China border.