OMM Redaksiyası
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that the health situation in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is worsening, with new Ebola hotspots emerging each week amid insufficient treatment capacity.
The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has reached a cumulative 8,554 cases, including 4,114 deaths, according to the Health Ministry’s latest situation update.
MSF said the outbreak in North Kivu has intensified sharply since early September. The province now accounts for nearly 40% of newly confirmed cases nationwide, compared with 24% at the end of August.
“It is like fighting a megafire,” said Stephanie Hoffmann, coordinator of MSF’s Ebola treatment centre in Butembo. She said several outbreaks were developing at once in different locations and at varying intensity, making it extremely difficult to contain the epidemic as new hotspots emerge and the virus spreads across northern North Kivu.
The outbreak has affected seven provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Tshopo and South-Ubangi. MSF said North Kivu is accounting for a growing share of the country’s cases while access to specialized care remains limited.
As of September 28, 34% of confirmed patients were still receiving treatment at non-specialized health facilities, due to limited bed capacity at dedicated treatment centres and delays in diagnosis, MSF said.
