The World Health Organization (WHO) counted 9,637 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,646 confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Oct. 19, as access problems hindered disease control.
The outbreak has affected 66 health zones in eight provinces, WHO said. Ituri held 72.7% of the confirmed caseload. The agency also identified Nord-Kivu and Haut-Uélé as areas where transmission remained active.
WHO listed Wapinda in Nord-Ubangi as the most recently affected health zone, following the outbreak’s spread into that province.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus. WHO says there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the disease it causes, although early supportive care can save lives. This is Congo’s second documented Bundibugyo outbreak, after one in 2012, according to the agency.
WHO said insecurity and displacement have made infections harder to track, while restrictions on humanitarian access have impeded the response. Those obstacles leave affected communities exposed as health workers try to identify cases and limit further spread.
Beyond Congo, Kenya has reported nine confirmed cases, and Nigeria has confirmed a case. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has scheduled a meeting of African health ministers for Oct. 28 to review the outbreak and coordinate support across borders.
