The WHO is running to contain Ebola in the DRC, as it confirms a third case

The World Health Organization on Friday confirmed a third case of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo as health workers compete to vaccinate residents and contain the possible outbreak.

Earlier this week, the world health agency confirmed that a woman died of the disease in Butembo, a city in North Kivu province and the epicenter of a previous Ebola outbreak that was declared over. in June. Since then, the WHO has confirmed two more cases, including another dead person, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergency program, said Friday.

The number of people who could have been exposed to the virus has risen from more than 70 Monday to 182 as of Friday, Ryan said. He added that all but three of these people had been contacted and that more than half of them had already been vaccinated against Ebola during previous outbreaks.

“We’re seeing some benefits from the previous vaccination, but obviously we need to look at how long the vaccine protects,” he said.

He added that new vaccine shipments arrived in Butembo this week. Butembo is installing ultra-cold chain storage equipment and training staff, Ryan said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo also has other therapeutic methods, including monoclonal treatments against Ebola, in the capital Kinshasa and another city, Mbandaka, Ryan said, adding that they will be relocated to North Kivu during the war. of the week. The DRC has enough vaccine for 16,000 people in the country, Ryan said, but it is unclear how far it has reached Butembo.

The WHO “is still unclear about the original EU source” of the first Ebola case, Ryan said, adding that the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research is sequencing samples of the virus in its main laboratory. Kinshasa to determine if new cases are associated with Butembo’s latest outbreak. Ryan said results are expected over the weekend.

The Ebola outbreak that was declared over in June lasted almost two years. It was the second largest country in the world and, when it ended, there were 3,481 cases in total and 2,299 deaths, according to the WHO.

The WHO noted that efforts to respond to outbreaks in North Kivu province have been especially difficult due to ongoing violent conflicts in the area, which is occupied by more than 100 different armed groups, according to Human Rights Watch.

Ryan said the WHO is collaborating with non-governmental organizations, the DRC government and other United Nations agencies such as UNICEF to respond to new Ebola cases.

Unlike the highly infectious coronavirus, which can spread to asymptomatic people, Ebola is believed to spread primarily to people who are already visibly ill. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of people who are sick or have died of the disease.

Ebola has an average mortality rate of 50%, although it can vary depending on the outbreak, according to the WHO.

“Obviously, two cases and now a third may not seem like many, many cases in light of what we see worldwide with Covid, but we have been on alert awaiting the return of Ebola to eastern Congo and we will do it. whatever is within our reach to support the government in the response, ”Ryan said.