Ebola kills 2,700 in DRC as UN chief seeks $1.1bn
No fewer than 2,700 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with about 500 new cases emerging weekly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the worsening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak could claim more lives unless the international community urgently expands funding and containment efforts. Guterres also warned that global indifference could Read More:…
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ebola has claimed the lives of 2,700 individuals, with approximately 500 new cases reported each week. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the worsening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, warning that the crisis could escalate further without substantial international funding and containment efforts.
Guterres emphasized the urgent need for increased financing, stating that the humanitarian response was only 48% funded, with available resources potentially lasting only a few weeks. He stressed the importance of overcoming "the virus of indifference" and appealed for an additional 1.1 billion dollars to prevent further deterioration of the epidemic.
The WHO noted that while interventions had slowed transmission, ongoing challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and weak health systems complicated containment efforts. Conflict-ridden Ituri Province, where over 12 million people require humanitarian assistance, posed significant obstacles for surveillance, contact tracing, treatment, and prevention.
The WHO highlighted that more than 40 healthcare workers had been killed and treatment centers and ambulances attacked during the response. International humanitarian agencies deployed additional resources, including burial teams and community-based teams, to address the health emergency alongside ongoing violence. WHO deployed experts and supplied essential medical and logistical support.
The World Food Programme and IOM provided aid and conducted screenings, respectively. Uganda, however, declared its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak officially over after 42 days without a new confirmed case.
Written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
