The WHO says community deaths reached 75 per cent of confirmed deaths as Ebola transmission continues to intensify and spread in parts of the DR Congo…reports Africa Daily News Desk
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is becoming increasingly difficult to contain, with transmission trends diverging across affected areas and a sharp rise in deaths occurring within communities, according to the latest World Health Organisation situation report.
The WHO said the outbreak was becoming “increasingly heterogeneous”, with transmission declining in some provinces and health zones while intensifying and spreading geographically in others.
A major concern is the growing proportion of Ebola deaths taking place in communities rather than treatment facilities.
During the week from August 31 to September 6, community deaths accounted for 75 per cent of confirmed deaths, the highest weekly proportion recorded during the reporting period. The figure was up sharply from 56.6 per cent two weeks earlier.
The WHO said the trend was particularly concerning because deaths in treatment facilities have continued to decline, while the earlier reduction in overall mortality has not been sustained.
The agency said the high level of community deaths could point to several barriers preventing patients from reaching medical care in time.
These include delays in detecting and reporting infections, late referrals or transfers to treatment centres, limited recognition of Ebola symptoms, transport and geographical difficulties, and people seeking treatment outside formal health facilities.
The WHO also highlighted concerns around community acceptance and trust, which could influence whether people seek medical assistance promptly.
The outbreak has also placed healthcare workers at significant risk. As of September 6, there were 167 confirmed infections among healthcare workers, including 47 deaths.
Vaccination efforts are continuing as authorities attempt to protect frontline workers and other people at increased risk.
The Ervebo vaccine, which is licensed against the Zaire ebolavirus, is currently being assessed to determine whether it can provide cross protection against the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak.
Under a protocol governed compassionate use programme, vaccinations for frontline healthcare workers and other at risk groups began on August 27.
By September 6, a total of 2,007 healthcare and frontline workers had received vaccinations, according to the WHO report.
The outbreak has so far recorded 6,686 confirmed cases and 3,226 confirmed deaths. The case fatality ratio among confirmed and probable cases stands at 48.3 per cent.
The WHO has assessed the risk of further spread as “very high” within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and “high” for neighbouring countries.
The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which met on August 18, warned that the outbreak remains far from controlled and continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.
The current outbreak was declared in May and has since become the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the second largest globally after the 2014 to 2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
With transmission continuing to rise in some areas and community deaths reaching record levels during the reporting period, health authorities face mounting pressure to improve early detection, strengthen access to treatment and overcome barriers preventing patients from reaching healthcare facilities.
