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Rachel V Thomas

DRC Says Ebola Outbreak Has Peaked, UN Warns It’s Still Growing

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have stated that the Ebola outbreak has reached its peak, with the number of new cases slowing for the first time since May.

However, the UN has warned that the epidemic remains “massive” and is still growing in some areas, while the World Health Organization (WHO) said it is too early to confidently conclude that the outbreak has passed its peak.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, was declared by the WHO on May 15. It is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.

It is also the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, behind the West African outbreak that lasted from 2014 to 2016.

While clinical trials are ongoing for vaccines and treatments against Bundibugyo virus, the DRC received more than 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine last month. Ervebo is approved for protection against the more common Zaire Ebola virus.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/ebola-bundibugyo-virus-american-health-worker-had-10x-higher-viral-load-in-throat-than-blood-article-155997969" data-type="tilCustomLink">Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than Blood</a>

According to the latest data from the Congolese health ministry, more than 7,200 confirmed cases and over 3,475 deaths had been reported as of September 14.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said transmission of the Bundibugyo virus had declined, with daily cases falling from about 120 at the peak in mid-August to around 80.

“We are fighting a very dangerous virus that is killing many of our people. Today, we can say that the outbreak is under control,” he said.

“At one point, we were recording about 120 cases per day; today, we’re seeing about 80 per day. So the number of new cases is decreasing every day.”

Kamba said 10 of the 62 affected health zones had reported no new cases for more than 22 days. Six health zones had gone more than 42 days without a new case, while four had gone more than 21 days without one.

He said the figures were “encouraging” but stressed that people must remain fully mobilized and not lower their guard.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/chile-eliminates-dog-transmitted-rabies-what-other-countries-can-learn-article-156161254" data-type="tilCustomLink">Chile Eliminates Dog-Transmitted Rabies: What Other Countries Can Learn</a>

Last week, Sud-Ubangi province, which borders Congo-Brazzaville and the Central African Republic, became the sixth province to report Ebola cases.

While welcoming the progress, Iracan Gratien de Saint-Nicolas, an MP for Bunia, warned against “triumphalism” and called for greater transparency over the outbreak data, The Guardian reported.

“Claims that an epidemic is under control must be supported by objective indicators. If the indicators show that the epidemic is indeed under control, let’s make them public. Transparency in the data will strengthen public confidence,” he said.

He also called for lessons to be learned from failures in epidemiological surveillance that contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.

UN officials acknowledged that response efforts were showing results but warned that the epidemic remained “massive” and could take months to bring under control.

“It remains a deadly and a massive epidemic. There are some areas of progress, but nonetheless, in other areas, we continue to see growth in cases,” Julien Harneis, the UN special Ebola coordinator, told a Geneva press briefing.

Asked about reports that the epidemic had reached a turning point, WHO's Olivier le Polain said: “It's too early to confidently say we have passed a peak”, Reuters reported.

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Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have stated that the Ebola outbreak has reached its peak, with the number of new cases slowing for the first time since May.However, the UN has warned that the epidemic remains “massive” and is still growing in some areas, while the World Health Organization (WHO) said it is too early to confidently conclude that the outbreak has passed its peak.The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, was declared by the WHO on May 15. It is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.It is also the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, behind the West African outbreak that lasted from 2014 to 2016.While clinical trials are ongoing for vaccines and treatments against Bundibugyo virus, the DRC received more than 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine last month. Ervebo is approved for protection against the more common Zaire Ebola virus.Are Ebola Cases Slowing?Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than BloodAccording to the latest data from the Congolese health ministry, more than 7,200 confirmed cases and over 3,475 deaths had been reported as of September 14.Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said transmission of the Bundibugyo virus had declined, with daily cases falling from about 120 at the peak in mid-August to around 80.“We are fighting a very dangerous virus that is killing many of our people. Today, we can say that the outbreak is under control,” he said.“At one point, we were recording about 120 cases per day; today, we’re seeing about 80 per day. So the number of new cases is decreasing every day.”Kamba said 10 of the 62 affected health zones had reported no new cases for more than 22 days. Six health zones had gone more than 42 days without a new case, while four had gone more than 21 days without one.He said the figures were “encouraging” but stressed that people must remain fully mobilized and not lower their guard.Concerns Over Government ClaimRead More: Chile Eliminates Dog-Transmitted Rabies: What Other Countries Can LearnLast week, Sud-Ubangi province, which borders Congo-Brazzaville and the Central African Republic, became the sixth province to report Ebola cases.While welcoming the progress, Iracan Gratien de Saint-Nicolas, an MP for Bunia, warned against “triumphalism” and called for greater transparency over the outbreak data, The Guardian reported.“Claims that an epidemic is under control must be supported by objective indicators. If the indicators show that the epidemic is indeed under control, let’s make them public. Transparency in the data will strengthen public confidence,” he said.He also called for lessons to be learned from failures in epidemiological surveillance that contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.What Is The UN Saying?UN officials acknowledged that response efforts were showing results but warned that the epidemic remained “massive” and could take months to bring under control.“It remains a deadly and a massive epidemic. There are some areas of progress, but nonetheless, in other areas, we continue to see growth in cases,” Julien Harneis, the UN special Ebola coordinator, told a Geneva press briefing.Asked about reports that the epidemic had reached a turning point, WHO's Olivier le Polain said: “It's too early to confidently say we have passed a peak”, Reuters reported.

drc says ebola outbreak has peaked, un warns it’s still growing

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