‘Burden and loss’ builds in DR Congo, as Kenya strengthens Ebola containment

As Ebola continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more resources are needed to fight the disease and feed patients and families, UN agencies said on Friday.“If we lift the foot off the pedal, the virus will resurge very quickly, will continue to spread to newly affected areas and pose a threat for the country, the region and the world at large,” warned Dr. Catherine Smallwood, World Health Organization (WHO) incident manager in the DRC. The country remains the epicentre of an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease that was officially declared in mid-May. It began in the volatile eastern region and has now spread to eight provinces, the latest being Nord-Ubangi in the northwest. There have been 9,765 cases to date and nearly half – 4,727 – have died. Additionally, 30,000 contacts are being monitored each day over a three-week period. A smaller outbreak in Uganda was officially declared over in August, while cases have also been confirmed in Kenya, Nigeria and France. Lives and livelihoods lostIn the DRC, “we’re seeing an incredible permanent burden and loss of livelihoods in those families that are affected”, said Dr. Smallwood, speaking from the easter...