WHO Chief Visits Ebola Outbreak Epicenter in Bunia

The World Health Organization’s head visited Bunia in eastern Congo amidst an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola virus. Despite enhanced health facilities and new aid flows, the disease is spreading faster than current responses.

Visit to Bunia

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, planned to visit a treatment center and meet local authorities, health workers, and families affected by the outbreak. He emphasized the importance of offering comprehensive support at the outbreak’s epicenter to combat the disease effectively.

The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed, Tedros stated on Friday.

Official figures indicated 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Neighboring Uganda reported nine cases and one death related to the Bundibugyo virus, which currently lacks approved treatment or a vaccine.

Efforts and Challenges

Tedros expressed confidence in Congo’s ability to control the outbreak based on its historical experience. After meeting Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, he acknowledged the challenging situation.

Medical aid from the European Union arrived in Ituri, and the U.S. pledged an additional $80 million, increasing its total contribution to over $112 million. Improved response efforts are evident at Bunia’s hospitals with increased staff, protective gear, and medical supplies. However, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) stressed the outbreak’s rapid spread, calling for expanded testing and quicker aid deployment.

Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration, Dr. Alan Gonzalez of MSF commented, urging for immediate action to address the crisis.

Local and Regional Impact

The outbreak response is hampered by local anger over medical protocols conflicting with burial traditions, leading to attacks on health centers. Security concerns from militant groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces and ethnic militias, further complicate the situation.

Cases have also emerged in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Uganda and Rwanda shut down borders, and the U.S. restricted travel from affected regions. Tedros criticized these measures, arguing that they hinder transparency and effective reporting.

Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency, he stated, advocating for open reporting from the Democratic Republic of Congo.