WHO Statement on Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Global Crises
WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus announced that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-spreading epidemic, with the number of cases exceeding 6,000.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated at a press conference in Geneva that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the fastest-spreading epidemic on record, and shared case and death figures.
Press Conference in Geneva
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with journalists at the United Nations Office at Geneva to evaluate global health issues.
Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Stating that the Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the second-largest and fastest-spreading epidemic on record, Ghebreyesus noted that the number of cases has exceeded 6,000 and deaths have surpassed 3,000.
Emphasizing that the outbreak affects 60 health zones across six provinces, Ghebreyesus reported that Ituri province remains the epicenter, accounting for 85 percent of cases and 88 percent of deaths.
Factors Increasing Transmission
Conveying that the majority of deaths occurring outside treatment centers and unsafe burials fuel transmission, Ghebreyesus stated that the outbreak will continue until every chain is found and broken.
International Response and Vaccine Efforts
It was stated that the WHO, together with the DRC government and partners, has deployed over 330 tons of emergency supplies and more than 300 experts to scale up the response.
It was announced that safety trials for two new vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus are being conducted in the UK and Canada, with efficacy trials scheduled to begin in the DRC in October or November.
Health Crisis in Gaza
Ghebreyesus stated that as winter approaches in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis is deepening, and cases of acute watery diarrhea have nearly doubled due to overflowing sewage and water contamination.
It was emphasized that more than 6,600 people who have lost limbs need rehabilitation, but the WHO has not been allowed to send prosthetics and rehabilitation equipment to Gaza for more than two years.
Flood Disaster in Nepal
Finally touching upon the sudden floods that occurred on the Nepal-China border, Ghebreyesus stated that over 1,000 deaths have been reported in Nepal, thousands of people are missing, and communities remain isolated due to damaged infrastructure.