LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading at a worrying pace, with nearly 900 confirmed infections recorded despite intensified efforts to contain the deadly virus.
Speaking on Friday from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, WHO Africa emergencies chief Marie-Roseline Belizaire described the outbreak as a serious public health emergency that continues to evolve quickly.
“The outbreak remains serious” and is “evolving so fast,” Belizaire said, noting that response efforts have improved significantly in recent weeks.
“I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day,” she added.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although health experts believe the virus had been spreading unnoticed before then.
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The current epidemic is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
According to the latest WHO figures, the DRC has recorded 896 confirmed Ebola cases, including 232 deaths.
Health authorities also reported 21 new infections within the last 24 hours.
Most of the infections have been concentrated in Ituri Province, which accounts for more than 90 percent of confirmed cases.
The virus has also spread into North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, raising fears of wider transmission in a region already affected by insecurity and conflict.
Meanwhile, WHO officials said significant progress has been made in strengthening the response.
The number of treatment beds available for Ebola patients has increased from zero to more than 500, while surveillance teams are now investigating nearly 400 alerts daily.
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Belizaire added that health workers currently have the capacity to conduct more than 2,000 Ebola tests each day, helping authorities identify and isolate cases more quickly.
Efforts to trace people who may have come into contact with infected patients have also improved.
Notably, WHO reported that about 75 percent of known contacts are now being monitored, although the agency says at least 95 percent must be reached to effectively control the outbreak.
Beyond the DRC, neighbouring Uganda remains the only other country affected by the outbreak.
The country has recorded 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, while 10 patients have recovered.
Encouragingly, Uganda has not reported any new Ebola infections in the last 12 days.
Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely as regional efforts intensify to stop further spread of the virus.
