The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has extended to a sixth province, officials have confirmed. A death was reported in Bas-Uele province, involving a man who had travelled from Haut-Uele province.
The World Health Organization (WHO) director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the outbreak is on track to surpass the deadliest in history, which killed over 11,000 people more than a decade ago. The current outbreak has already claimed more than 2,100 lives from over 4,500 cases, according to government figures.
The Bundibugyo virus, responsible for this outbreak, currently has no approved vaccines or treatments. The death toll has been reached almost three times faster than the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola outbreak. The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, commented this week, "We are chasing the virus; the virus is ahead of us."
The outbreak is occurring amidst challenges including strikes by unpaid health workers, threats from rebel groups, and misinformation. Health workers at a treatment centre in Ituri province went on strike on Thursday due to unpaid wages, leading to the temporary closure of the facility. Clinical trials for two potential treatments for this type of Ebola began last month in Ituri.