The World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than 10,000 cases of Bundibugyo virus disease have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), highlighting the outbreak’s devastating impact on families.

WHO regional director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said this in a statement on his official X handle on Tuesday, noting that more than 2,600 people had recovered from the disease.

Mr Janabi, however, expressed hope of controlling the outbreak, citing progress in developing new vaccine and treatment candidates for Bundibugyo virus disease through ongoing clinical trials.

He said efforts to strengthen laboratory testing, treatment capacity, infection prevention and control, community engagement and surveillance were continuing across affected areas to support the response and limit further transmission.

The WHO regional director said the organisation’s teams were working with the DRC government and partners to interrupt transmission and save lives through coordinated public health interventions and sustained response efforts.

He emphasised that sustained commitment, community trust, solidarity and safe access to affected communities were essential to ending the outbreak and protecting vulnerable populations from further infections and deaths.

(NAN)