ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The worsening transmission of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demands enhanced international solidarity and support to close critical response gaps, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.
The urgent call was made by Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya during an online press briefing on Thursday evening. He stressed that the continued outbreak "has dwarfed prior Ebola outbreaks."
Since the DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, the central African country has recorded a total of 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of more than 45 percent. Some 776 patients have recovered from the deadly disease, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC.
"The level of severity of this Bundibugyo outbreak is unprecedented. We started with nine affected health zones, and today we have 51 health zones affected by the outbreak. This outbreak is just expanding," said Kaseya, emphasizing the need to conduct studies to understand and address the phenomenon, including the possible mutation of the virus.
The African Union's continental public health agency identified current limited contact tracing capabilities as the major critical constraint hindering the response in the DRC, highlighting that the follow-up of listed contacts remains below the minimum benchmark.
Kaseya also highlighted climbing community cases and deaths, a rising case fatality rate, inadequate bed capacity, funding shortages, insecurity, as well as unsafe burial practices as some of the major obstacles to containing the outbreak.
On a positive note, Kaseya commended Ugandan health authorities for successfully interrupting local Ebola transmission, highlighting the East African nation's decisive leadership, rapid detection, strong preparedness systems, and vital community engagement.
Beyond the DRC and Uganda, 11 other countries across the continent have been designated as high-risk: South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Somalia.
