The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised concerns over increasing obstacles in managing the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), even as Uganda has successfully contained its own outbreak.
During a recent online briefing, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the DRC as the fastest-growing ever recorded and the second largest by confirmed cases. Since May 15, when the DRC declared its 17th outbreak, the country has reported 3,442 confirmed cases and 1,521 deaths, with a fatality rate exceeding 44 percent.
Operational Constraints Hampering Response
Kaseya highlighted several critical challenges facing the DRC’s response efforts, including limited contact tracing capacity, rising community transmission, insufficient bed availability, and a high number of infections among health workers. Additional hurdles include funding shortages, insecurity, and unsafe burial practices that complicate containment.
Despite these setbacks, progress has been made in laboratory testing capabilities, with 19 active labs now processing over 3,000 samples daily, a significant increase from only two labs at the start of the outbreak. Clinical trials targeting the Bundibugyo Ebola strain have also commenced, marking an important development given the absence of licensed vaccines for this variant.
Uganda’s Successful Containment Efforts
In contrast, Uganda declared its Ebola outbreak over on Tuesday, following comprehensive epidemiological investigations confirming interruption of transmission. Kaseya praised Uganda’s coordinated efforts, noting the critical role of political leadership, community engagement, and dedicated health workers in halting the spread.
He called on the United States to lift Ebola-related travel restrictions on Uganda, emphasizing the country’s success in controlling the outbreak.
Regional Vigilance and Collaboration
Africa CDC urged Uganda to maintain vigilance through continued infection prevention, risk communication, and community surveillance, especially given ongoing risks in neighboring DRC. Eleven other African nations, including Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, and Tanzania, remain classified as high-risk for potential Ebola spread.
Kaseya is scheduled to join WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for a visit to Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak in Ituri Province, DRC, to meet with key stakeholders and reinforce response strategies.
