WHO Director-General Visits Congo Amid Rapid Ebola Outbreak

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently visited Bunia, a city in eastern Congo. The city is currently experiencing a rapid outbreak of a rare strain of Ebola, known as the Bundibugyo virus. Although health facilities and aid efforts are well-organized, the virus is spreading faster than the response can manage.

During his visit, Dr. Tedros was scheduled to tour a treatment center and engage with local authorities, healthcare workers, and affected families. He emphasized the importance of supporting efforts to combat the disease at its epicenter, stating, “The best way to address this is to provide all necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed.”

The current Ebola strain has no approved treatment or vaccine.

Latest figures from the WHO indicate 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. However, reports suggest the actual figures could be three to four times higher. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death. The outbreak prompted the WHO to elevate its risk assessment to “very high” at the national level.

The European Union recently delivered medical aid to Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, with more shipments expected soon. Additionally, the U.S. pledged an additional $80 million in aid, increasing its total commitment to over $112 million.

Challenges in the Response

Bunia’s Rwampara and General hospitals have organized response efforts, including staff, protective gear, and medical supplies. However, Doctors Without Borders warns that the response has not kept pace with the rapidly spreading outbreak. Dr. Alan Gonzalez, deputy director of operations, stated, “Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration.” He urged for expanded testing and faster deployment of aid workers.

Local anger over stringent medical protocols for handling bodies, conflicting with burial customs, poses risks for health workers. Residents have attacked health centers, and ongoing rebel activity by the Allied Democratic Forces and ethnic militias further complicates response efforts. The outbreak has reached Congolese provinces North and South Kivu, areas with significant rebel control.

Border Closures

Uganda and Rwanda’s border closures are not effective in controlling the outbreak, according to Dr. Tedros, who argued that transparency should be encouraged. “Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency,” he remarked.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that travelers from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan would be banned from entering the U.S., except U.S. passport holders. Airports such as JFK, Washington-Dulles, Hartsfield-Jackson, and George Bush Intercontinental are conducting enhanced health screenings. The CDC will monitor symptoms and potentially transport patients to hospitals.

A Kenyan High Court judge temporarily blocked efforts to establish an Ebola quarantine facility on an air base. This decision arose amid discussions about containment measures in eastern Africa.