The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains out of control six months after it was declared, with more than 11,000 confirmed cases and over 5,000 deaths, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned, ET Healthworld reported.
The current outbreak is the second largest of the rare strain of Ebola virus. Bundibugyo and there are no approved vaccines or treatments for that strain.
MSF added that a shortage of medical supplies, untrained and unpaid staff, fuel and poor disease surveillance were hindering the response.
“Although we have received huge amounts of funds to fight this outbreak, many of those at the forefront of the response are left feeling helpless, doing all they can to contain this epidemic empty-handed and empty-pocketed,” said Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, MSF’s international president.
The organisation added that two-thirds of Ebola-related deaths reported in the previous month had been in communities and not treatment centres. In Ituri province, just 9% of MSF patients were contact persons known through the surveillance system.
Insecurity and attacks on health facilities have also been cited by WHO as key challenges. An attack last week in North Kivu province killed 66 people, including three health workers and interrupted contact tracing in the province and three confirmed patients are unaccounted for.
MSF called on the Congolese authorities and UN agencies to ensure that support is delivered to responders and affected communities.
