WHO reports progress in Congo Ebola fight but warns of surging cases in North Kivu
The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo virus has killed over 3,500 across seven provinces, with transmission declining in Ituri but accelerating elsewhere.
What to know
- Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Congo has killed over 3,500 of 7,200 cases across seven provinces, making it the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
- Transmission is declining in Ituri province but weekly cases in North Kivu have nearly doubled to over 200 in two weeks, as officials describe managing multiple simultaneous epidemics.
- WHO leadership expressed cautious optimism about progress while emphasizing the outbreak continues to grow and kill, and that assessing trends takes time.
“In North Kivu, 'cases are rising fast.' The number of weekly cases has nearly doubled over the past two weeks, from about 100 to more than 200.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General · Mercury News ↗
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO Director-GeneralMaria Van Kerkhove WHO Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Management
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WHO epidemic official urges cautious optimism paired with realism on outbreak trajectory
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director for epidemic and pandemic management, called for measured optimism while acknowledging the long road ahead, noting that assessing trends takes time.
“we can be cautiously optimistic about what is happening, but I think we need to be realistic about the road that's ahead of us. Looking at trends takes time.”
— Maria Van Kerkhove -
first by Google News · Health, 7d ago · also The Canberra Times, MedPage Today, Toronto Star, Arab News, CTV News, CP24 +4
3 more headlines
- 'Encouraging signs' in Congo Ebola fight: World Health The Canberra Times · 6d ago
- WHO Spots Some 'Encouraging Signs' in Congo Ebola Fight MedPage Today · 6d ago
- WHO sees 'encouraging signs' in Congo Ebola fight, but warns cases in one eastern region are surging Toronto Star · 5d ago
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background
WHO warns epidemic continues to grow and kill despite localized progress — Tedros emphasized that despite some encouraging signs in one region, the overall outbreak remains serious, with more than 7,200 cases and more than 3,500 deaths reported across seven provinces. He characterized the situation as multiple simultaneous epidemics rather than a single outbreak.
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background
WHO reports mixed progress: transmission down in Ituri, surging in North Kivu — WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Wednesday that the Bundibugyo virus outbreak shows encouraging signs in Ituri province with transmission declining, but warned of rapid case growth in North Kivu where weekly cases have nearly doubled to over 200 in the past two weeks.