By Ekene Nwankwo
World Health Organization (WHO)
officials have raised fresh concern over an Ebola outbreak spreading across
parts of central and eastern Africa, as hundreds of suspected infections and
dozens of deaths are now under investigation in the Democratic Republic of
Congo and neighbouring Uganda.
According to the latest figures
released on Friday, health authorities are tracking about 906 suspected cases
of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Out of these, 223 suspected
deaths are also being examined to confirm whether they are linked to the virus.
Officials say investigations are still ongoing as surveillance teams work
across affected communities.
The outbreak is being driven by
the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a form of the virus known for its
seriousness and limited treatment options. Health experts have also confirmed
that infections are not only present in the DRC but have crossed into Uganda,
raising fears of wider regional spread.
So far, 125 cases have been
officially confirmed in the DRC alone. These confirmed infections have been
recorded across parts of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Seventeen
confirmed deaths have been linked to these cases.
In Uganda, seven confirmed
infections have been reported, including three cases traced back to people who
had travelled from the DRC. One death has also been recorded in the country.
However, health officials stressed that there is currently no evidence of
sustained local transmission within Uganda’s communities, although surveillance
efforts remain high.
On Friday, Uganda’s Ministry of
Health announced an updated figure, confirming nine infections in total, as
monitoring continues along border areas where movement between both countries
remains high.
The outbreak was first
identified several weeks ago in eastern DRC, but the WHO believes it may have
started as early as two months before it was detected. The organisation
formally declared the situation a public health emergency of international
concern after concerns that the virus had been spreading quietly in densely
populated areas, making it harder for health teams to trace contacts and
contain infections early.
One of the major concerns is
the severity of the strain involved. Experts estimate that the fatality rate
among confirmed cases could be between 30% and 50%, meaning as many as half of
those infected could die if not treated quickly.
World Health Organization
expert Anaïs Legand warned that the situation remains serious but still
uncertain. She explained that early figures are not final, but the pattern of
infections suggests a high-risk outbreak that requires urgent attention.
She also noted that better
access to treatment could significantly improve survival rates. According to
her, early medical care remains the strongest tool available in reducing deaths
from the disease. Health workers in the DRC have already recorded the discharge
of the first recovered patient, who tested negative twice before being released
from care.
Officials are now focusing on
improving laboratory capacity across affected regions. More testing facilities
are being scaled up to reduce delays in confirming suspected cases. The WHO
said a backlog of samples is expected to be cleared soon, which may lead to a
rise in confirmed numbers in the coming days.
Despite the growing figures,
health authorities say the increase in reported cases does not necessarily mean
the situation is worsening uncontrollably. Instead, they say it reflects
improved detection and stronger monitoring systems in the field.
However, experts caution that
it is still too early to determine whether the outbreak has reached its highest
point. Investigations continue across communities, and health teams remain on
alert as new data comes in daily.
With borders closely watched
and emergency response teams deployed, regional governments and international
health agencies are working together to slow the spread of the virus and
prevent a wider outbreak across East Africa.
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