Tedros arrives in Congo as Ebola outbreak spreads beyond known contacts

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reached Congo as health agencies intensified the response to the escalating Ebola outbreak. The visit comes amid rapid spread beyond monitored contacts, exposing severe gaps in tracing and access.

In Short

• Confirmed infections have reached 3,874, with 1,751 deaths recorded so far
• The outbreak is the second-largest ever, but spreading faster than others
• Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or treatment, complicating containment efforts

World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has arrived in Congo as authorities step up efforts to contain the world’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak. The visit comes as confirmed cases have risen to 3,874, with 1,751 deaths recorded as of Monday, according to the latest data published overnight by Congo’s Ministry of Health.

The outbreak is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record after the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, and has surpassed all previous outbreaks in terms of the rate of transmission. Tedros reached Kinshasa late on Tuesday night and is scheduled to meet partners and Congo President Flix Tshisekedi, the WHO country office told The Associated Press. This is his second visit to the country since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.

The outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine. Local officials believe it had been spreading in a remote part of eastern Congo well before it was officially declared on May 15. Officials also say most of the new cases are being found outside the list of known contacts being monitored after exposure to patients, showing that the disease is spreading faster than the response.

In Ituri province, the centre of the outbreak that accounts for nearly 90 per cent of cases, many areas remain inaccessible because of security concerns linked to rebel conflict. Many health workers have also gone on strike over non-payment, although some have reported receiving their dues in recent days. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said during a visit to Bunia on Tuesday that contact tracing was not working, with at least 60 to 70 per cent of new cases emerging outside the contact list. “We need to be innovative in the way we approach the contact list,” Kaseya said.

Officials say late detection of cases remains a major challenge and has been a key factor behind the 45 per cent fatality rate. Of the 77 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours, 44 were deaths, according to the health ministry. At least 717 patients are in isolation, while 749 have recovered. Overall, the latest figures and the continuing spread outside known contacts underline the scale of the challenge facing Congo as international and local agencies try to slow the outbreak.

With PTI Inputs

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