Red Cross: Congo Ebola outbreak hasn’t peaked, may last year
A Red Cross official warned the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo could last a year, with over 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain confirmed and no proven vaccine available.
More than 800 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain have been confirmed across the country, with 192 deaths recorded so far. The virus, which spreads through bodily fluids even after death, is advancing rapidly through three provinces, government data shows.
Bruno Michon, operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, delivered the sobering assessment during a video briefing from eastern Congo on Tuesday. He warned that containing the epidemic would be extremely challenging.
We are afraid that this could last one year, to end this disease, Michon stated.
The Bundibugyo strain currently has no proven vaccine or treatment available, complicating response efforts significantly.
Response Hampered by Multiple Challenges
Health officials acknowledge that more than a month after the outbreak was declared, the true scale of the crisis remains unknown. The response has been severely constrained by a shortage of treatment centers and widespread community resistance to strict hygiene protocols.
Michon revealed that International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies teams conducting community engagement and managing safe burials of Ebola victims have faced verbal abuse, threats, and physical attacks in recent days.
He emphasized that earning community trust requires honesty, patience, and humility, describing such efforts as life-saving rather than optional in this outbreak.
The epidemic represents one of the most serious public health emergencies currently facing Central Africa, with the deadly Bundibugyo strain adding complexity to containment efforts.
With information from New York Post
