Ebola cases climb in DRC

The ebola epidemic continues to spread through the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province, claiming the lives of 255 victims so far with another 440 people infected, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The non-governmental organisation, which is redoubling efforts to bring the epidemic under control, confirmed on Monday that the latest areas to be affected included the city of Butembo and a number of isolated areas that were difficult to reach.

This is DRC’s tenth and most serious ebola epidemic since the virus was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River, in what was then called Zaire.

Forty years later, despite a massive and coordinated mobilisation by the World Health Organisation, the Congolese ministry of health and organisations such as Doctors Without Borders, the deadly virus was still spreading.

The newest urban locations to be affected are the city of Butembo, Kalenguta, which is 25km to the north of and Katwa, 30km to the east.

These places have all seen an increase in confirmed cases. The number of cases in Butembo city centre was low, but they were rising quickly in its eastern suburbs and outlying isolated districts.

“We are very concerned by the situation in Butembo. We now know this outbreak will last and that we must increase our efforts to get it under control,” Butembo Doctors Without Borders project coordinator John Johnson said.

“We have made a decision to rollout our activities close to the affected populations and to organise training of key people in the community so we can reach patients and their relatives.”

The NGO is decontaminating health centres and vaccinating frontline health staff in a bid to contain the epidemic. So far 2 000 health staff have been vaccinated. – ANA

We now know that this outbreak will last and that we must increase our efforts to get it under control. John Johnson MSF coordinator