Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda Passes 200 Deaths as Funding Falls Short

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has claimed more than 200 lives in its first month, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). With hundreds more cases confirmed, it is the worst Ebola emergency in years, yet less than 10 percent of pledges made to support the fight against the disease have been received from donors.

At least 202 people have died in DR Congo, according to Africa CDC's latest update, with another two deaths recorded in Uganda. With 894 confirmed cases so far, the current outbreak is three times worse than a previous outbreak in Uganda in 2000, which had 281 cases at the same point, said Wessam Mankoula, a medical epidemiologist at Africa CDC, on Thursday. The latest number of cases is believed to be higher, because the outbreak was only confirmed on 15 May – weeks after it was suspected to have begun. Cases have increased by 38 percent since last week and the outbreak is now in 32 health zones across eastern Congo.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments and was not tested for in the early days. The more common Zaire virus, for which there is a vaccine, was responsible for most of Congo's past 16 outbreaks of the disease. The outbreak is concentrated in Congo's eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the cases. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and have spread across the border to Uganda, where 19 confirmed cases have been reported.

Contact tracing remains an issue due to the area's remoteness and ongoing insecurity in Ituri province. "We are still far from controlling the situation of this outbreak," said Mankoula. The Red Cross warned this week that the outbreak in the DRC, declared on May 15, has yet to peak and could take a year to contain.

The response to the epidemic, the 17th to hit the vast central African country, faces towering challenges. The three affected provinces in the northeastern DRC – Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu – have long been gripped by conflict and mass displacement, complicating the response. Donors have pledged $910 million, including $80 million from African Union member states, according to available figures, but only a fraction has been delivered.

Key Claims

  • The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda has claimed more than 200 lives in its first month, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Donors have pledged $910 million, but less than 10 percent of pledges have been received, according to Africa CDC.
  • There are 894 confirmed cases of Ebola so far, with a mortality rate of 23 percent.
  • The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments.
  • The outbreak is concentrated in Congo's eastern province of Ituri, accounting for more than 90 percent of cases.
  • Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and have spread to Uganda, where 19 confirmed cases have been reported.
  • The Red Cross warned that the outbreak has yet to peak and could take a year to contain.

Perspectives

Africa CDC: Officials at the Africa CDC, including Dr. Wessam Mankoula, emphasize the severity of the outbreak and the challenges of contact tracing due to security and accessibility issues. They note that the situation is far from controlled.

Red Cross: The humanitarian organization warns that the outbreak has not yet peaked and could last a year, highlighting the need for sustained international support.

Donor Community: While donors have pledged significant funds, the low rate of disbursement (less than 10 percent) indicates a gap between promises and actual support, which may hinder response efforts.