Ebola Outbreak in DRC: WHO Reports 30-50% Death Rate, Seeks Ceasefire Amid Conflict
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a death rate of between 30% and 50% for the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Anaïs Legand from the WHO’s high threat pathogens team emphasized the severity, stating, “It means up to five out of 10 people are likely to die.” A patient recovered and was discharged from a health centre on May 27, marking the first confirmed recovery in this outbreak.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday and planned to visit the outbreak’s epicenter in Ituri Province, though the trip was delayed. He appealed for a ceasefire among warring parties, saying, “Conflict and displacement make everything harder... Please declare a ceasefire. No cause is worth condemning innocent people to death.”
The outbreak is further complicated by the region being a hub for armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23, which controls parts of North and South Kivu provinces. Over 245,000 people have fled the area since January, according to the UN refugee agency.
Neighboring Uganda has closed its border with the DRC after reporting one Ebola death and eight cases. The WHO warned that such measures could increase informal crossings and hinder disease monitoring.
In Kenya, the high court suspended plans for a US-backed quarantine facility for Ebola patients, citing constitutional concerns. The US announced $13.5 million in aid for Kenya’s preparedness efforts and has pledged $112 million for the regional response.
The African Union’s health agency head, Jean Kaseya, suggested a vaccine could be available by year’s end. The WHO received 4.6 tonnes of aid in Bunia, with Unicef promising an additional 100 tonnes.
Ebola has killed over 15,000 people in Africa in the past 50 years, with the DRC’s 2018-2020 outbreak being the deadliest, claiming nearly 2,300 lives.
