Ebola outbreak spreads in eastern Congo
“We see pockets of Ebola generally going down, but unfortunately geographically it’s spreading out,” World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi told The Associated Press in an interview in Beni, eastern Congo, on Friday, reports BritPanorama.
Janabi emphasized that one of the biggest challenges has been convincing infected individuals to seek medical assistance. This has led to fatalities occurring in communities outside health facilities.
Serge Ngalebato, an epidemiologist and field coordinator for the Wamba health zone in Haut-Uele province, stated that health workers in his region are conducting periodic home visits due to fears that prevent people from going to hospitals.
Nord-Ubangi, situated between Sud-Ubangi and Bas-Uele, has witnessed the disease’s expansion along the border with the Central African Republic. Recurring armed violence in this area has displaced thousands, prompting them to seek refuge in Congolese border communities, complicating access due to poor roads and limited communication networks.
Data from the government indicates that Ituri province remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for nearly three-quarters of confirmed cases. Since the outbreak’s commencement, 66 health zones have reported infections.
