Ebola outbreak in Congo expands to 60 affected health zones

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has spread to two new health zones, bringing the total number of affected areas to 60, according to government figures published on Friday. The newly affected zones are Biena and Manguredjipa in North Kivu province, where the case fatality rate is significantly higher than the overall rate of 48%, attributed in part to delayed response efforts, as reported by Congo's Ministry of Health. The outbreak has recorded 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths, spreading at an unprecedented speed, outpacing efforts to track and contain it. The outbreak is exacerbated by challenging conditions, including insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike, and intense population movements. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Doctors Without Borders announced the opening of a new treatment center in Beni, North Kivu, to facilitate a quicker response in one of the hardest-hit areas. While most cases are concentrated in northeastern Ituri province, North Kivu has an Ebola fatality rate close to 69%, one of the highest in the country. The new center aims to enable rapid patient treatment, strengthen contact tracing, and support health authorities in containing the virus's spread. On Thursday, Congo began vaccinating health and other front-line workers with the Ervebo vaccine, which has proven effective in past Ebola outbreaks caused by the more common Zaire strain. Clinical trials are ongoing to find a licensed vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for the current outbreak, which currently has no approved vaccines or treatments. Although the outbreak was officially declared in mid-May, officials believe it had been spreading since February. It has expanded from three health zones to nearly 60, with the majority of cases and deaths occurring outside monitored contacts and within communities. Measures to control the outbreak, including restrictions on public gatherings, social distancing, and airport closures, have disrupted life in the six affected provinces, particularly Ituri, which has experienced significant rebel violence. The government has implemented measures such as installing health and sanitary equipment at various locations, but advocacy groups emphasize the need for more efforts to build community trust. While neighboring Uganda declared itself free of Ebola last month, the risk of further cross-border spread persists, according to WHO. WHO expert Marie Roseline Belizaire indicated that the Central African Republic is now considered the country at the highest risk of spillover, followed closely by South Sudan, as the outbreak in eastern Congo expands toward border areas.