WHO Urges Community Ebola Cooperation in DRC
WHO calls for community cooperation to contain an Ebola outbreak in the DRC amid protests and conflict.
Lauren Collins ·
WHO Urges Community Ebola Cooperation in DRC
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday called for increased community cooperation to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following protests against medical protocols for handling victims' bodies. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the appeal during a visit to eastern Congo, emphasizing that community involvement is crucial for effective containment.
The current outbreak, the 17th recorded in the DRC, has registered 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Protests against stringent medical protocols, particularly concerning burial rites, have been linked to at least three attacks on health centers. The Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no vaccine exists, is responsible for the outbreak, though infected individuals can recover with early medical intervention.
Relief efforts are further complicated by ongoing conflict in the mineral-rich Ituri region, prompting Ghebreyesus to call for a ceasefire. International support has increased, with the European Union donating medical aid and the United States committing an additional $80 million, bringing its total to $112 million. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, while Brazilian authorities are monitoring two suspected cases.