Ebola Suspected Cases Surge Past 900 in DR Congo as Conflict Blocks Aid

A Rare Strain with No Quick Fix

The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine and no specific treatment. According to the WHO, the spread can only be stopped through consistent isolation of infected persons and their contacts for at least three weeks.

However, the ongoing fighting between government troops and rebel groups has displaced around 100,000 people in the past month alone, according to WHO figures. In overcrowded refugee camps, contacts of infected persons cannot distance themselves from others, making isolation practically impossible.

Tedros stated that the ongoing fighting is the single biggest obstacle to containing the disease. 'A ceasefire, even a short one, would save lives,' he said, calling on the warring parties to at least temporarily lay down their arms.

A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Crisis

The WHO is working with partners to accelerate clinical studies on possible vaccines and therapies against the Bundibugyo strain. The organization's scientific advisory bodies have already recommended studies on several promising products, but it will still be several months before possible treatments become available.

Despite the dire situation, there have been glimmers of hope. On Wednesday, the WHO reported the first recovery case after a confirmed Ebola infection in the DRC. WHO specialist Anaïs Legand stated that a patient had recovered and left the hospital after two negative tests, marking the first person since the start of the epidemic to be sent home from a treatment center.

Tedros, upon arrival in Kinshasa, maintained that the outbreak 'can be stopped.' He appealed to the population via X, writing: 'Together we will overcome this outbreak.' He also promised: 'I will do everything in my power to help you.'

Aid Arrives, but a Catastrophe Looms

International aid is beginning to arrive. UNICEF reported that 100 tons of relief supplies from the European Union landed in Bunia, including protective equipment for medical personnel, medicines, and hygiene items intended to benefit approximately 100,000 people.

The humanitarian situation, however, remains catastrophic. Welthungerhilfe warns of a humanitarian catastrophe in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where around ten million people are already affected by armed conflicts, displacement, and severely restricted access to humanitarian aid.

Ursula Langkamp, Welthungerhilfe country director in the DRC, described the compounding crises: 'The people in eastern Congo have not had peace for years — first hunger, war and displacement, and now Ebola on top of that.'

The African Union health authority has registered 1,077 suspected Ebola cases, including 246 deaths. The WHO last reported 223 suspected Ebola deaths since the start of the latest outbreak, with 10 deaths confirmed. New suspected cases are also being reported from neighboring Uganda.

Tedros stated that the WHO does not support travel bans, saying they 'do not achieve much.' This stance contrasts with actions taken by the United States, which has imposed entry restrictions on people from the affected countries.