Geneva: The World Health Organization has raised alarms that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be far larger than official reports indicate, potentially being four times greater than the current figures suggest.According to France24.com, recent data from the Democratic Republic of Congo indicates that the haemorrhagic fever has infected over 1,960 individuals and resulted in more than 700 deaths since its detection two months ago. However, WHO emergencies director Chikwe Ihekweazu revealed in Geneva that their modeling suggests the actual scale of the outbreak might be two to four times higher than the reported cases.Despite the official count, this outbreak is already noted as one of the largest recorded, with the virus's rapid spread outpacing previous occurrences. "This is now the third-largest Ebola outbreak ever," Ihekweazu commented, highlighting the unprecedented growth rate observed over a single month since the outbreak began.The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak was officially declared on May 15 following several fatalities in Ituri, a mineral-rich province troubled by armed conflicts. Ebola cases have surfaced in five provinces within the DRC and have extended into neighboring Uganda. Nevertheless, more than 90 percent of the infections are still concentrated in Ituri, Ihekweazu noted.Having recently returned from a week-long visit to the affected regions, Ihekweazu described the situation as "deeply concerning." The outbreak, attributed to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which lacks an approved vaccine or treatment, continues to outstrip the response capabilities of national authorities, international partners, and impacted communities.A particularly troubling aspect is that numerous new cases are being reported among individuals who succumbed to the disease in their communities without receiving any medical intervention. Despite these challenges, Ihekweazu expressed optimism about the increasing momentum of the response efforts.He reported that treatment ca pacity has surpassed 700 beds and is steadily growing, while laboratory facilities have seen significant enhancements, and the rate of contact tracing is nearly at 80 percent. "In recent days, we've recorded some of the highest numbers of new infections in a single day," he stated. Although concerning, this surge in confirmed cases is viewed as "good news," indicating that fewer cases are slipping through the detection net, which reflects a more mature response effort.
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