As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grapples with its second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, fears are growing that hundreds of cases may be slipping under the radar. The African continent's top public health official has revealed that almost 300 confirmed cases cannot currently be traced, exacerbating concerns about the uncontrolled spread of the virus.
The humanitarian crisis in the affected regions is severely hampering efforts to contain the outbreak. Ongoing conflict and a lack of access to displacement camps – where over one million people are living – mean crucial contact tracing and monitoring cannot be conducted. This makes it incredibly difficult to get an accurate picture of the situation and implement effective control measures.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighted that 30% of new cases are among known contacts, indicating a significant level of community transmission. The WHO's Africa regional office predicts approximately 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September under a central scenario, with a more pessimistic projection suggesting the potential for up to 66,000 confirmed cases by September.
The recent announcement that a French doctor working in the DRC tested positive upon his return to France further underscores the risk of international transmission. This outbreak has now surpassed the initial stages of the devastating West Africa epidemic from 2014 to 2016, which ultimately infected over 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000.
Authorities in the DRC have implemented measures requiring anyone who has been in affected provinces to wait 21 days before onward travel. However, addressing the funding shortfall remains a critical challenge, with only about 13% of the £723 million pledged by international governments and organisations having been delivered so far.
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to certain areas of the DRC, citing the ongoing risk of Ebola transmission. The UK's Department for International Development (DfID) has pledged £20 million in support, but humanitarian agencies are warning that much more is needed to stem the outbreak and mitigate its international spread.