The World Health Organization has said efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic are “catching up”, despite the virus having had a “big head start.”
This week, WHO reported a major drop in the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) outbreak, after testing ruled out many of them.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday there were now 344 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC outbreak and 116 suspected cases — a significant drop from the 1,000-plus suspected cases.
Tedros confirmed there had been 60 deaths, but that six people had recovered in Congo and two in Uganda, showing that patients can survive if they have early access to treatment.
Challenges remain, however, especially in terms of increasing testing capacity and tracing contacts. Frustrations also remain over U.S. plans to open a controversial Ebola isolation facility in Kenya.
Plans to establish a 50-bed quarantine facility for U.S. citizens affected by the Ebola outbreak in DRC have provoked a public backlash in Kenya, although the country’s president, William Ruto, said the plan was safe. On Tuesday, two people were reportedly killed amid a protest close to the Laikipia Air Base, where the facility is due to be placed.
Kenya’s high court temporarily blocked the quarantine facility last week, citing public health concerns. Some U.S. health experts have also criticized the plans, after the Trump administration said it was determined to ensure the virus did not cross U.S. borders.
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