Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is growing 'exponentially,' with over 2,500 fatalities reported in the past three months, a senior UN coordinator on the disease stated on Friday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Julien Harneis highlighted during a press briefing that the epidemic's spread now covers an area larger than France. He expressed concern over the rapid expansion of the outbreak, noting that half of the deaths have occurred in just the past 20 days. Harneis attributed the situation to ongoing armed conflict in the region, which has caused the displacement of approximately 1 million people, thereby weakening law enforcement and fragmenting essential services, particularly healthcare.
The outbreak has presented dire conditions for health workers, with over 5,000 cases reported since May. Harneis revealed that 160 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola, resulting in 43 deaths among them. He further noted the challenges faced by these workers, including attacks on personnel, ambulances being burned or stoned, and health facilities being targeted.
Access to affected regions remains a significant hurdle, with poor infrastructure complicating the movement of personnel and supplies. The fragmented health system and limited banking services have also impeded efforts, making it difficult to secure funds necessary for frontline workers. Harneis pointed out that humanitarian funding cuts over recent years have reduced the capacity of organizations by more than 30%.
In response, five government-led integrated operational packages have been implemented to enhance the outbreak response. These initiatives focus on community engagement, improved disease surveillance, expanded burial teams, and increased treatment capacity. However, the official warned that the $80 million in funding received thus far would soon be exhausted.
Harneis called for greater investment and support from the international community, emphasizing that delays in funding and implementation would only exacerbate the outbreak's severity and cost.