WHO warns: DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreading fast

Marie-Roseline Belizaire, WHO Africa emergencies chief, told reporters in Geneva from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province and the outbreak's epicentre, that the situation remains serious and is evolving very fast. However, she noted that the response is growing stronger every day.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, though transmission had been going undetected for some time before. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.

According to the latest WHO update, there have been 896 confirmed cases in DR Congo, including 232 confirmed deaths, with 21 new cases in the last 24 hours. More than 90% of cases are in conflict-wracked Ituri province, and the outbreak has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

Belizaire said the epidemic is evolving so quickly that the response is racing to keep pace. The virus spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids.

The number of treatment beds for Ebola patients has increased from zero to over 500. Surveillance teams are investigating nearly 400 alerts and can conduct over 2,000 tests per day. Contact tracing has been ramped up, reaching 75% of all contacts, though the WHO says 95% is needed to get on top of the outbreak.

Belizaire noted that some sick people stay at home, then go to traditional healers, before finally seeking healthcare, delaying treatment. 78 people have recovered, which she called a reminder that timely diagnosis and quality healthcare save lives.

Healthcare workers have been hit hard: 75 infected, 17 died. Belizaire said that with a large community outbreak, it cannot be said for sure they were infected in health facilities. A Chinese medical team has arrived in the capital Kinshasa and will head to Bunia.

In neighboring Uganda, the only other affected country, there have been 19 confirmed cases including two deaths, and 10 recoveries. The UN migration agency has conducted over a million health screenings at borders and along travel corridors.