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The World Health Organization (WHO) said efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are facing serious challenges. The virus is spreading to new areas faster than treatment capacity can be expanded.
According to the WHO, more than 6,000 infections and over 3,100 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak was declared in May. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, is considered the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's recent history.
First detected in the northeastern city of Bunia, the virus has now spread to six provinces. Health authorities are changing their approach, which initially relied on a small number of central treatment facilities, by establishing additional centers closer to newly affected communities to speed up access to patients and prevent transmission.
Luca Fontana, a technical officer with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said that about 1,400 treatment beds had been established at 59 facilities during the first months of the response. He said this expansion was one of the fastest increases recorded during Ebola outbreaks.
However, health officials say existing capacity is insufficient to handle the growing number of infections. The WHO estimates that an additional 1,600 beds are needed to meet demand, with plans to increase total capacity to about 3,000 beds.
Alongside the expansion of bed capacity, a shortage of health workers is another major challenge. The WHO estimates that each bed requires about three trained health workers to provide round-the-clock care and infection prevention and control. This means approximately 9,000 health workers would be needed for 3,000 beds.
Existing staffing levels are reportedly well below that figure. As a result, an additional 5,000 health workers need to be recruited and trained. Staff must receive training in infection prevention, the use of protective equipment, laboratory operations and Ebola treatment protocols.
The WHO also highlighted the limited number of international organizations capable of running Ebola treatment centers. Cuts in global humanitarian and development funding have made it more difficult to deploy experienced partners to areas affected by the outbreak.
Water systems, solar power facilities and other infrastructure improvements have been introduced at some treatment centers. However, additional support is needed for the facilities to operate at full capacity.
The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a six-month continent-wide preparedness and response plan in reaction to the crisis. The plan, which requires hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, includes response measures in the DRC as well as strengthened monitoring and preparedness capabilities in neighboring countries.
The current outbreak is further complicated by the lack of an approved vaccine and specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. As a result, the response relies largely on the timely identification of cases, patient isolation, contact tracing and public health measures.
