WHO Says Global Ebola Risk Remains Low Despite Rising Cases in Africa

The global risk posed by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa remains low despite a rising number of cases in the affected region, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Tedros said the Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has so far resulted in 1,094 confirmed cases, including 277 deaths. Uganda, which borders the DRC, has also recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths.

Despite efforts to scale up response measures and strengthen disease surveillance and detection capacity, significant challenges remain, Tedros said, warning that the outbreak continues to outpace the response. Contact tracing remains below required levels, treatment and isolation capacity is inadequate, and safe and dignified burials remain a major challenge, he said. Health systems are under strain, border closures are hampering response efforts, security incidents continue to occur, and funding remains insufficient, he added.

Tedros said clinical trials for two Ebola therapies are expected to begin next week. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no specific approved vaccine or treatment exists. Meanwhile, France has reported one Ebola case involving a health worker from the non-governmental organisation ALIMA who recently returned from the DRC after treating Ebola patients, according to the WHO.

The patient has been monitored since arriving in Paris and is receiving treatment, said Abdirahman Mahamud, director of WHO’s Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations. The patient is currently in good condition, experiencing mild symptoms and fever, Mahamud said, adding that the WHO appreciates the swift response by French authorities in providing care and implementing recommended public health measures. Mahamud also warned that health workers tackling the outbreak are operating in an extremely high-risk environment. As of Wednesday, seven security incidents targeting Ebola response personnel had been recorded. A total of 82 health workers have been infected during the outbreak response, including 78 in the DRC and four in Uganda, he said. The DRC is currently facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, which was declared in mid-May. The outbreak has affected the eastern part of the country and spread to neighbouring Uganda.