Ebola outbreak in Congo still in ‘expansion phase’ – WHO

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) official on Tuesday said the Ebola outbreak in Congo has not yet stabilised and is still expanding, with transmission fuelled by ‌the population.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed 1,561 cases, including 506 deaths, in the worst-ever outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo species of ⁠Ebola for which there is no proven treatment or cure.

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Dr Anne Ancia, WHO representative in the country, said, “It is still in the expansion phase, unfortunately. We would like to say it is stabilising, but frankly we cannot say it yet.’’

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She said that major challenges remained, such as the near-saturation of some Ebola treatment centres with occupancy levels around 90 per cent.

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According to her, another difficulty is ⁠that workers falling ill in the mining town of Mongbwalu are not seeking treatment locally but are instead travelling ⁠and spreading the disease to new regions.

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“Population, movements, persistent insecurity and the fragility ⁠of the health system continue to complicate efforts to bring the outbreak under control,” Ancia said. (Reuters/NAN)

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