More than 1,900 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) ongoing Ebola outbreak, with the majority succumbing before reaching treatment centers. According to Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, 60 to 70 percent of deaths are happening in communities distant from care facilities, a critical gap now central to the World Health Organization's response.

Janabi, speaking from Bunia—the epicenter of the outbreak in eastern DRC—highlighted that this Ebola strain is particularly lethal and currently has no approved vaccine. Since the epidemic was declared on 15 May, Janabi has visited Bunia five times, most recently spending three days assessing the situation.

Three months into the outbreak, the WHO, alongside Congolese authorities and partners, plans to urgently intensify efforts as too many patients receive treatment too late. Janabi noted that after detecting a case, teams identified 159 contacts, including 121 suspected cases.

Steve Ahuka, a Congolese leader in the response, visited several treatment centers and engaged with community members to understand the persistent high death toll. The WHO reports that half of the deaths among transported individuals relate to the conditions of their care.

Despite these challenges, Janabi expressed optimism but stressed the urgency of the situation: if most Ebola deaths continue to occur outside healthcare facilities, the virus will maintain its advantage. He questioned the current approach, noting that only 30 percent of cases are being seen in treatment centers three months after the epidemic began.

The WHO's intensified response aims to address these critical gaps to reduce community deaths and control the outbreak.

Sources