Kinshasa, June 27 (IANS). The number of Ebola infections continues to increase in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The figure has crossed 1,200. 1,203 people have been confirmed to be infected with Ebola, of which 321 have died. This information was given in the latest report released by the public health officials of the country.
According to the report released on Friday (local time), 148 patients have recovered so far, while 419 patients are in isolation or undergoing treatment in the hospital. Health officials have also identified 265 suspected cases, 77 of whom have died.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X on Friday that contact tracing (monitoring of contacts) is continuing rapidly in DRC and many patients are recovering and returning home.
However, he warned that the fight against the disease is still “very long”. He said conflict and insecurity in the area were slowing down relief efforts. Not only this, lack of trust among people also remains a big challenge.
The report also notes several serious challenges facing the response operation, including resistance to post-mortem testing by communities, a lack of treatment capacity in the Ituri region, and treatment centers being almost full.
Apart from this, problems like contact tracing rate being below the 95 per cent target, shortage of essential medicines, shortage of infection prevention and control materials, and shortage of about 20 isolation centers have also come to the fore.
Insecurity and limited access to areas affected by armed groups, continued population transfer, and a funding shortfall of approximately US$20 million are also listed as major obstacles.
This current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was officially declared on 15 May.
Meanwhile, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appealed for US$1.4 billion in assistance for Ebola response efforts.
In an online press briefing, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kassaya said the outbreak had not yet reached its peak five weeks after the announcement and a sharp increase in cases was recorded in the last week. He warned that if this situation continued for a long time, it could become the largest Ebola outbreak ever.
–IANS
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