Tedros, WHO, warns that security situation in DR Congo could delay Ebola-related progress



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Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief executive of the World Health Organization, said on Thursday that the spread of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo had been contained in 11 of the 28 communities where cases had been recorded.

However, the fight continues, despite persistent security problems in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, where the epidemic is concentrated – and where an attack in a Biena health center has been reported a few hours ago.

One person was killed by a stray bullet and another injured in the incident, while crowds attacked the Mambowa center and Biena hospital following necessary tests on a deceased victim of death. 39; Ebola. The Congolese authorities have indicated that they will be traveling to Biena on Friday to help calm the situation.

"Safety remains our number one concern," said Tedros at a press conference in Geneva. "Attacks on Ebola treatment centers are not attacks by the community, but by armed groups, including Mai Mai and ADF. These attacks could reverse the gains we have made. "

Butembo and Katwa remain the areas most affected by the Ebola outbreak, with Katwa accounting for more than half of new cases in the last 20 days. Of the 867 confirmed cases, 258 are in Katwa, as well as 11 of the 65 probable cases.

Four other people who died in Masereka followed last week's reports of the first two, a man with a confirmed diagnosis of Ebola and his wife. There are now 587 dead, the DRC's Ministry of Health said Thursday, including 182 in Katwa. Overall, the number of cases reached 932, of which 867 confirmed and 65 probable.

To date, 74 health care workers have been infected with the Ebola virus, of which 26 have died, according to the latest update from the WHO.

More than 87,900 people received the rVSV-ZEBOV approved experimental vaccine, including more than 20,700 in Beni and 22,000 in Katwa.

Image: UN Geneva

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