The WHO says the DRC’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached two new health zones: Bulu in South Ubangi and Dungu in Haut-Uele. It now affects 63 health zones in seven provinces; as of Sept. 23, the DRC had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said conflict and displacement are making it harder for health workers to reach affected communities and trace people who may have been exposed. Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya said more than 7,000 confirmed cases should correspond to about 420,000 contacts, but only 30,000 people were on contact lists. Tedros said no vaccines are approved for the Bundibugyo strain and the WHO is accelerating vaccine and treatment trials.
Ituri remains the outbreak’s epicentre, with 6,032 confirmed cases since it began in May, including 868 in the 21 days before the report. North Kivu had 1,480 cases, including 567 in that period; nearly 60 percent of diagnosed patients there died, compared with 48 percent nationally. Medical staff said some patients avoid health facilities until late, with one doctor citing fears of being sent to a treatment centre to die.
