The World Health Organisation says the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 6,000 reported cases and 3,000 deaths, warning that the outbreak is spreading rapidly.

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus raised the alarm during a news conference shared on the Organisation’s website regarding the Ebola update in Kinshasa. He said the outbreak was now the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded and the fastest-moving outbreak WHO had ever seen.

“The epidemic affects 60 health zones across six provinces, covering a vast geographic area and creating significant challenges for response teams. Ituri province remains the epicentre, accounting for 85 per cent of reported cases and 88 per cent of deaths.

“Most Ebola deaths are occurring in communities rather than treatment centres, raising concerns about undetected transmission and delayed access to care,” he said.

According to him, many people who die are not being safely buried, a situation fuelling continued transmission of the virus. He said that many deaths also involve people who were not identified as known contacts, indicating that unknown transmission chains remain active.

The WHO chief warned that the epidemic would continue until every transmission chain was identified and broken.

“The ongoing outbreak poses a threat not only to the Democratic Republic of Congo but also to neighbouring countries and the wider region. The Ebola response is unfolding amid conflict, displacement, poverty and hunger, making disease control more difficult for affected communities.

“Communities are also facing diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, malnutrition and conflict, contributing to mistrust about the international focus on Ebola,” he said.

Mr Ghebreyesus said rebuilding and maintaining community trust and ownership remained the most important factor in changing the epidemic’s trajectory.

According to him, the organisation and partners plan to triple treatment capacity to 3,000 beds across the Democratic Republic of Congo within three months.

He said that the organisation has also issued emergency guidance on using an approved Zaire Ebola virus vaccine during Bundibugyo virus outbreaks.

(NAN)