Ebola response must be scaled up to tackle DRC outbreak, says WHO chief

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an accelerated response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tedros stated that the international community must step up funding to support the Congolese government's effort, which is seeking US$1.3 billion.

The Ebola outbreak, which is caused by the Bundibugyo species, has claimed over 3,000 lives in DRC, making it the largest and deadliest outbreak in the country's history. It is currently the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak globally, following the 2014-2016 West African outbreak that infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000 in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Tedros emphasized that many deaths occurred among individuals not on the list of known contacts, indicating that there are chains of transmission that remain undocumented. This suggests that the epidemic continues to pose a threat not only to DRC but also to its neighboring countries and the broader region.

While the WHO has shipped 320 tonnes of supplies and increased testing capacity to 3,000 tests per day, Tedros stressed the need for additional funding to support the response. He highlighted the importance of increasing bed capacity at Ebola treatment centers, noting that each 1,500-bed center costs US$15 million per month to operate.

The WHO is conducting clinical trials of potential vaccines and treatments to combat the outbreak. Over 300 Ebola patients have been enrolled for trials of two treatments, and antiviral drug remdesivir is being tested among high-risk contacts of Ebola cases. Two new vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus are also undergoing safety trials in Britain and Canada. However, further clinical efficacy trials are necessary to determine the effectiveness of these vaccines and treatments.