**WHO Urges Increased Efforts to Combat Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo**
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an urgent scaling up of the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), emphasizing the need to effectively track and break the chains of virus transmission. The statement was made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a press briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.
As the outbreak continues to escalate, government data indicates that the death toll has exceeded 3,000, marking it as the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in the country’s history. This outbreak, attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has surpassed the previous significant outbreak that occurred between 2018 and 2020. It is now second only to the catastrophic 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which resulted in over 28,600 infections and more than 11,000 fatalities across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Tedros highlighted the critical challenge of identifying and breaking every chain of transmission, stating, “Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue and will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbours and the region as a whole.” He pointed out that many of the recent deaths occurred among individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating that there are still undiscovered transmission chains contributing to the spread of the virus. Additionally, unsafe burial practices have been identified as a significant factor in ongoing transmission.
In light of these challenges, the WHO is urging the international community to enhance and accelerate funding for the Congolese government-led Ebola response plan, which is seeking $1.3 billion. Although the WHO has successfully shipped 320 tons of medical supplies and increased testing capacity to 3,000 tests per day, further financial support is crucial to bolster the response efforts, including expanding bed capacity in Ebola treatment centers.
Luca Fontana, a technical officer for health and logistics with the WHO, noted that maintaining a 1,500-bed treatment center costs approximately $15 million per month. Tedros acknowledged the difficulties in securing funding for humanitarian assistance, stating, “We know that we are making this request at a time when financing for humanitarian assistance has contracted. But as we know from previous Ebola outbreaks, we can control this epidemic if we choose to.”
Despite the ongoing crisis, there are signs of potential progress in the development of treatments and vaccines. More than 300 Ebola patients have already been enrolled in trials for two therapeutic options. Additionally, trials are underway for the antiviral drug obeldesivir, aimed at assessing its effectiveness in preventing disease among high-risk contacts of confirmed Ebola cases.
The WHO is also advancing the development of two new vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo virus, currently undergoing safety trials in the United Kingdom and Canada. Given that it remains uncertain whether an existing vaccine for the Zaire Ebola virus would be effective against the Bundibugyo strain, the WHO plans to conduct clinical efficacy trials for these new vaccines in the DRC, with the aim of starting in October or November.
As the situation continues to evolve, the WHO remains committed to working with partners to expedite the progress of these vaccine trials and enhance the overall response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization’s efforts underscore the urgent need for a coordinated global response to contain the epidemic and prevent further loss of life.