WHO: 5 Patients Recover From Rare Ebola Killing 200+ in Congo
Five patients have recovered from a rare Ebola strain in eastern Congo with no approved treatment, marking a milestone amid 906 suspected cases and 223 deaths.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, confirmed the recoveries during the opening ceremony of a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri province, as New York Post reports. Four patients were discharged Sunday, with one having been released two days earlier.
The recoveries represent a critical milestone as health officials combat the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola for which no approved treatment or vaccine currently exists. The WHO confirmed Friday that a patient had recovered from this particular strain, marking the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo case during the current outbreak.
According to the WHO, the latest official figures show 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, the Ugandan Health Ministry reported Friday.
Medical Response Overwhelmed by Rapid Spread
Despite improved health infrastructure and new aid arrivals, the virus continues to spread faster than the response capabilities, Doctors Without Borders warned Saturday. The organization called for immediate expansion of testing, faster deployment of aid workers, and sustained access for medical supplies.
Health workers face mounting dangers as local residents express anger over strict medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies, which conflict with traditional burial practices. At least three attacks against health centers have been launched by residents.
Community Involvement Key to Containment
During the treatment center opening, Tedros emphasized the critical importance of community engagement in the outbreak response. The WHO chief urged residents to seek medical care at the first sign of symptoms, stressing that early treatment significantly improves recovery chances.
The response effort faces additional complications from ongoing violence in the region. Allied Democratic Forces fighters, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State, killed seven people Saturday in Beni, North Kivu province, an area also affected by the outbreak, according to the Congolese army and civil society groups.
The illness has spread across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, south of Ituri. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities in the region, including Goma and Bukavu, further complicating containment efforts.
Medical Officials Express Hope
Pierre Akilimali, Incident Manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, delivered an optimistic message during the facility’s inauguration Sunday, telling the Ituri community there is hope for controlling the outbreak.
Davin Ambitapio, a doctor at the treatment center, noted that symptomatic treatment is proving effective and expressed confidence that the virus strain is less complicated than those encountered in past outbreaks. With partner support, medical teams believe they can bring the outbreak under control quickly.
With information from New York Post
