The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will remain a major threat unless health authorities identify and break every chain of transmission.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva on Wednesday that continued transmission could endanger the DRC, neighbouring countries and the wider region.
Official government figures show that more than 3,000 people have now died from the disease, making the outbreak the deadliest and largest Ebola epidemic recorded in the DRC.
The outbreak has also been described as the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic in history. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that containment efforts remain below established response targets.
According to the CDC, as many as 80 percent of new infections are occurring outside known chains of transmission, making it more difficult for health teams to trace contacts and prevent further spread.
Response efforts have been complicated by armed conflict in parts of the DRC, particularly mineral-rich areas where insecurity can restrict access for health workers. Poor infrastructure and industrial action by unpaid healthcare workers have also affected the response.
Health authorities face additional challenges linked to community practices, including traditional burial ceremonies that can increase the risk of transmission.
The WHO has urged continued surveillance, contact tracing and rapid response measures to break remaining transmission chains and prevent the outbreak from spreading beyond the DRC.
