The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains out of control, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday.
"The disease had a head start, and we are still behind," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva after visiting the affected region in eastern Congo.
The deadly virus had likely been spreading for weeks before it was detected in mid-May. The now-confirmed, rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola had not been detected by conventional tests.
The WHO now reports 344 confirmed cases in DRC, including 60 deaths. In neighbouring Uganda, 15 cases have been confirmed.
The number of suspected cases has fallen significantly from more than 1,200 to fewer than 170, as most samples from people suspected of having Ebola tested negative.
The WHO said the vast majority of collected samples have now been analysed and that it is helping authorities significantly expand testing capacity in the region.
Tedros cited a number of challenges. Among other things, he said it remains difficult to isolate and monitor the contacts of infected individuals. So far, this has only been achieved for 45% of contacts, but a figure of more than 90% is needed to stop the spread.
More also needs to be done to gain the public’s trust so that those who are ill come forward and can receive the best possible care in the designated treatment centres.
At the same time, the WHO is working urgently to develop vaccines and treatments for this type of virus, said Tedros.
