The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported encouraging progress in efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while warning that the situation remains fragile as cases continue to rise in parts of the country’s east.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said transmission was declining in the worst-affected areas of Ituri Province, while South Kivu has recorded no new cases since May.
“We’re now starting to see encouraging signs that we’re gaining ground,” Tedros said, noting that more than 1,700 people had recovered from the disease.
He said the outbreak, which has persisted for four months, had been largely contained in northeastern DRC, although health authorities remained concerned about new infections in some areas.
According to the WHO, more than 7,200 cases and over 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces.
WHO Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Management, Maria Van Kerkhove, said the recent developments warranted cautious optimism but warned that significant challenges remained.
“We can be cautiously optimistic about what is happening, but I think we need to be realistic about the road that’s ahead of us,” Van Kerkhove said.
She said some areas of North Kivu were recording increases in infections, with cases doubling in certain locations.
Van Kerkhove stressed the need for continued vigilance as health authorities work to prevent further transmission.
The WHO said sustained disease surveillance, contact tracing and rapid response would remain critical to containing the outbreak and preventing new clusters of infection.
Despite the progress recorded in some provinces, the health agency urged authorities and communities to maintain response efforts until transmission is fully brought under control.
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