Democratic Republic of the Congo – UN agencies warned of the continued outbreak of the Ebola virus in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consequently, fears are growing over the daily rise in infections, especially among children. Moreover, the current outbreak covers a vast geographical area of nearly a thousand kilometers. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to contain the disease and limit its rapid spread. Thus, the World Health Organization confirms that the actual size of the outbreak may be much larger than announced figures due to population movement.
Hundreds of Infections and Deaths by a Rare Strain
Health authorities have recorded hundreds of infections within a short period. Accordingly, 676 infections and 136 deaths were confirmed in just three weeks. In addition, this outbreak is linked to the rare “Bundibugyo” strain of the Ebola virus. Conversely, the number of affected health zones has risen to 34 so far. Therefore, new infection hotspots continue to emerge rapidly in the North Kivu regions, exacerbating the health crisis.
Expanded UN Response to Mitigate the Disaster
UNICEF has deployed thousands of health workers to try and contain the crisis. On the other hand, more than 1,600 workers and 24 specialized teams participated in sterilization and disinfection efforts. Consequently, field teams reached over 160,000 families to raise awareness about the risks of the Ebola virus. Ultimately, international organizations continue to cooperate with local authorities to implement proactive emergency plans. Accordingly, the UN is intensifying its efforts to prevent this outbreak from turning into an uncontrollable comprehensive regional disaster.
