Ebola epidemic is speeding up and spreading to Congo. WHO alarm: “3,605 cases with 1,587 deaths”

“Initially limited to the health area of Mongbwalu, in the province of Ituri, in the last 2 months the epidemic has spread to 5 provinces (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo), now affecting 49 health areas”, reports the WHO. “The continued increase in cases, geographic expansion, and persistently high mortality underscore the rapidly evolving nature of this public health emergency.”

“The convergence of insecurity, population displacement and mobility, and cross-border movements complicates response operations and increases the risk of further geographic spread,” the UN health agency says. “National authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in collaboration with WHO and partners, continue to implement extensive response measures; however, a substantial scale-up of response activities is required to stay ahead of the outbreak. A regional preparedness and prioritization framework continues to guide preparedness and response activities across the African Region.”

“On 28 July the Ugandan Ministry of Health declared the end of the Ebola Bundibugyo epidemic in the country – it is recalled in the report – after 42 days without new confirmed cases of local transmission”, considering that “the last one was discharged from treatment on 16 June. The last imported case”, however, “was discharged from a treatment center on 16 July after two negative tests. Following the guidelines international organizations, the WHO will monitor the situation for 42 days from this date to ensure that no chains of transmission have been lost.”

Uganda is not yet safe, the Geneva-based agency warns. The country “remains at risk of imported cases and reintroduction of the virus, due to ongoing transmission in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO – reads the report – reiterates the need to maintain high levels of surveillance, preparedness and control measures, in particular in consideration of the continuous movement of the population and the risk of cross-border transmission”.