WHO Raises National Threat Level
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now poses a “very high” risk to the country, according to the World Health Organization, which has revised its threat assessment upward.
WHO officials said the outbreak is spreading quickly. Suspected cases have climbed to almost 750, while suspected deaths have reached 177. A week earlier, when the outbreak was first reported, there were 246 suspected cases and 65 suspected deaths.
A Deeply Worrying Situation
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, described the situation as “deeply worrisome”. The rapid increase in suspected infections has intensified concern among health officials and humanitarian groups working in affected areas.
Although the WHO raised its risk assessment for the DRC, it kept the regional risk level at high and the global risk level at low. Most cases remain concentrated in Ituri province, though some infections have been reported elsewhere in the country and two have been identified in neighbouring Uganda.
Treatment Centre Attacked
The response suffered a serious setback on Thursday when tents and medical supplies outside a hospital in Rwampara, in Ituri province, were set on fire as medics attempted to establish an Ebola treatment centre.
The crowd was reportedly angry after being prevented from retrieving the body of a local man who had died at the hospital. Ebola victims must be buried under strict infection control protocols to reduce the risk of further transmission.
Distrust Complicates The Response
Tedros warned that significant distrust of outside authorities among local communities is creating challenges for the outbreak response. He said building trust in affected communities is critical and remains one of the WHO’s highest priorities.
Dr Anne Ancia, the WHO representative in the DRC, said the attack in Rwampara would significantly jeopardise operations there. The treatment centre had been designed to separate Ebola patients from other hospital patients, reducing the risk of further spread.
Bundibugyo Strain Raises Concern
The outbreak has been caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Unlike some other Ebola strains, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically available for this variant.
That makes detection, isolation, contact tracing and community cooperation especially important. Health officials said rising case numbers may partly reflect improved detection, but warned that the outbreak is not yet under control.
Response Still Behind The Outbreak
Ancia said the response is still running behind the spread of the virus. However, she expressed confidence that the outbreak can be contained if health teams, communities and aid groups work together.
She said officials are hopeful that the damaged treatment centre in Rwampara can be restored quickly and made operational again within 24 hours.
Aid Groups Warn Of Resource Gaps
Humanitarian organisations working in Ituri said they still do not have enough resources to mount an adequate response. Aid cuts have left health systems short of equipment and staff, making outbreak control more difficult.
Dr Amadou Bocoum of Care International said lower staffing levels have made case investigation and contact tracing harder. Julie Drouet of Action Against Hunger said teams are working urgently, but the response is not yet equal to the scale of the emergency.
Scientists Study Possible Antiviral Option
During a WHO briefing, scientists said they had identified an antiviral drug, obeldesivir, that may help prevent people exposed to Bundibugyo Ebola from developing the disease.
Researchers are now working to establish trials in affected areas. For now, however, the immediate priorities remain rapid detection, safe burials, community trust, isolation of suspected cases and strengthening the medical response in Ituri and beyond.
