Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo - New Centre Opens At Heart of Record Ebola Outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing its largest Ebola outbreak on record, prompting the opening of new UN-backed treatment centers. Health officials warn that insecurity and population displacement are significantly hindering response efforts.
Why it matters
The rapid spread of Ebola in a conflict-ridden region poses a severe threat to public health and requires urgent international intervention.
New UN-backed centres will serve eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as confirmed Ebola cases continued to climb sharply over the weekend in the largest ever outbreak of the highly contagious disease in the country.
" Ebola is moving fast, hitting people already facing conflict and hunger," said Carl Skau, acting chief of the World Food Programme ( WFP ) following a weekend visit to eastern DRC. " Communities are key to ending it, but need support ."
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WHO said the current outbreak is now the largest recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country, surpassing the 2018 to 2020 outbreak which resulted in 3,317 confirmed cases.
During the most recent complete reporting week, the highest weekly number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) to date were recorded, underscoring the exceptional pace of transmission.
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