By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization has warned that ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is severely hampering efforts to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said insecurity in eastern DRC is accelerating the spread of the disease, noting that response efforts in Ituri province are being outpaced by the outbreak.
According to the WHO, the country has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, alongside more than 1,000 suspected cases. The organisation warned that the true scale of infections is likely higher due to limited detection in conflict-affected areas.
The outbreak, the 17th recorded in the DRC, is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The WHO said the case fatality rate is estimated to be under 25 percent, lower than in previous outbreaks.
Neighbouring Uganda announced it was closing its border with the DRC with immediate effect and imposing a 21-day quarantine on arrivals from the country under health surveillance measures.
The WHO warned that decades of armed conflict in eastern DRC have severely weakened state presence, with displacement, overcrowded camps, and attacks on health facilities further complicating containment efforts.
Tedros called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that ongoing fighting is making it nearly impossible to track contacts or isolate infected individuals.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the United States is planning to open a quarantine centre in Kenya for nationals needing evacuation and monitoring as the situation develops.
