DRC Reports 225 Confirmed Ebola Cases as It Battles 17th Outbreak

Congolese authorities reported 225 confirmed Ebola cases on Friday, nearly double the 121 cases recorded two days earlier. The same figures showed 1,028 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths. The World Health Organization recorded 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths as of Friday.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived at Bunia airport in Ituri province on May 30 after meeting DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka in Kinshasa. He is expected to visit a treatment center and meet local authorities, health workers and affected families.

Tedros told reporters that the international community is supporting the government-led response while community ownership remains important.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. This marks the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the disease was first identified in the region in 1976. Bundibugyo is one of three virus types behind most major epidemics.

MSF described the outbreak as one of the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreaks ever recorded. Dr. Alan Gonzalez, MSF’s deputy director of operations, stated that never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration.

MSF also said nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak. The virus has spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls major cities and has reported two cases. Health teams in Ituri have come under attack from the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group linked to ISIL, and from local ethnic militias.

Anger over strict rules for handling victims’ bodies has led to at least three attacks on health centers. Uganda recorded nine confirmed cases and one death. Uganda and Rwanda have closed their borders with the DRC.

The Trump administration barred most travelers who had recently visited DRC, Uganda or South Sudan. Tedros stated that border closures and travel bans are ineffective and discourage countries from reporting outbreaks. The European Union sent medical supplies to Ituri province, with shipments arriving on Thursday.

The United States committed more than $112 million to the response after announcing an additional $80 million. Global funding for the Ebola response has fallen from $498 million to $219 million, according to Africa CDC. Health ministers from the IGAD bloc agreed this week to redirect about $7 million toward regional Ebola prevention.

DRC health authorities expanded testing, contact tracing and monitoring. The outbreak recorded its first confirmed recovery this week when a patient was discharged after two negative tests. WHO is working with DRC and Uganda to assess experimental drugs and a candidate vaccine.

Tedros expressed confidence that the DRC can bring the outbreak under control. “The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced Ebola before, 16 times, and has ended every outbreak. This is the 17th. That history gives me real confidence,” he said.

Reuters reported that the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency. Reuters also reported that Congolese authorities reported 225 confirmed Ebola cases. Euronews reported that Africa CDC reported at least 1,077 suspected cases including 246 deaths.

U.S. plan to open an Ebola quarantine centre in Kenya. S. Reuters reported that Kenya’s health minister stated the quarantine centre project would proceed despite the court suspension.

Reuters reported that the United States stated it expects to resolve the dispute over the Kenyan quarantine centre.