The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that there have been 220 suspected deaths in the current Ebola virus outbreak, cautioning that any further delay in response could spell disaster for Africa and the international community.
“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us,” Tedros said on Monday, urging countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to take immediate action.
Earlier on Monday, Ugandan authorities reported two confirmed cases, taking the total number of cases in Uganda to seven.
In a post on social media on Sunday, the WHO chief said that as surveillance efforts have been scaled up in the DRC, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far.
Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding, organ failure, and death.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been identified as the epicentre of the latest outbreak. Authorities have declared the country’s northeastern province, spanning a 200km (125 miles) zone, as ground zero, though cases have also been reported beyond this area.
There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for the new Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Last week, the WHO declared the outbreak of this rare mutated strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Fear has gripped streets in cities across the DRC and Uganda.
In the epicentre in Congo, authorities have mandated that the dangerous work of burying suspected victims be handled only by official teams, a measure that has sometimes led to protests from grieving families.
The latest outbreak is particularly deadly and can spread quickly amid the hot and humid climate typical of the region.
The absence of vaccines or curative medicines could lead to catastrophic consequences in several countries.
Also read: No Ebola case in India yet, Nadda reviews preparedness
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