DR Congo: Ebola is killing people before they ever reach a doctor
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is causing high mortality rates because patients are unable to reach treatment centers in time. WHO officials are working to address logistical gaps and transport issues that prevent timely medical intervention.
Why it matters
Highlights critical public health infrastructure failures in managing lethal viral outbreaks in remote regions.
More than 1,900 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ebola outbreak – and most of them never made it to a treatment centre . Between 60 and 70 per cent of deaths are happening in communities far from care, a gap that is now central to the World Health Organization's response.
“The Bundibugyo virus continues to outpace us,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, speaking from Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak in eastern DRC – referring to a particularly lethal Ebola strain for which there is still no approved vaccine.
“ The Bundibugyo virus continues to outpace us ,” Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said at a press conference, referring to the particularly lethal species of Ebola for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
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