The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has inaugurated its largest Ebola treatment centre as the country battles the most extensive outbreak of the disease in its history. The new facility, with a capacity of 100 beds, aims to improve the identification and care of Ebola patients in the hardest-hit eastern regions.
Outbreak Overview
Since mid-May, the DRC has reported over 3,600 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,587 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak has rapidly expanded, now affecting 49 health zones across multiple provinces, with 33 zones still reporting active cases. Ituri province remains the epicenter, accounting for nearly 90% of cases and over 80% of deaths nationwide.
Response Efforts
- A new Ebola transit centre has been established at the Kigonze displacement camp near Bunia to facilitate quicker case identification and referral.
- The 100-bed treatment centre complements existing facilities and increases capacity to manage the rising number of patients.
- Additional supplies, including beds and mattresses, have been delivered to priority areas such as Nizi, home to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons.
Challenges and Urgent Needs
The WHO has called for a significant scale-up of response activities, highlighting the challenges posed by ongoing conflict, population displacement, and cross-border movement, which exacerbate the spread of the virus. Approximately 270,000 displaced people live in conditions conducive to transmission.
Health workers have also observed complications such as stillbirths and premature deliveries among Ebola patients, indicating a need for specialized care for pregnant women.
UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, emphasize the critical role of community support and rapid intervention to contain the outbreak.
