The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on June 3 that the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is improving, though the virus still has a significant lead. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that efforts are catching up under the leadership of the Congolese government. Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned that the outbreak may have spread undetected for three months before detection, citing delayed contact tracing and multiple transmission chains.
Confirmed cases and deaths
As of June 2, the DRC Ministry of Health reported 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The WHO previously estimated fewer cases than initially feared, attributing some suspected infections to other diseases. However, the IRC claims the true scale of infections is likely higher due to incomplete contact tracing, with only 20% of contacts currently traced.
Challenges in the DRC
The outbreak is compounded by the DRC’s struggles with corruption, conflict, poverty, and internal displacement, which hinder healthcare efforts. Supplies are scarce, and no approved drugs exist for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, though three vaccines are in development. The CDC maintains that the risk to the U.S. public and travelers remains low, with no reported cases linked to the outbreak in the U.S.