The Ebola epidemic in Congo can last several months

The area of ​​greatest concern is the city of Beni in North Kivu province in Congo, where dozens of people likely to have been exposed to the deadly disease are hiding health workers, said Peter Salama, responsible emergency interventions by WHO.

"We expect that we will now wait another three or four months to actually stem this epidemic, focusing particularly on Beni and its surroundings," Salama said. "I would say it's the best scenario."

The outbreak caused 194 cases and 122 deaths. Two-thirds of the cases last month occurred in and around Beni, where the Ebola response was disrupted last month by armed group attacks and a period of official mourning.

The next few days will tell if the wave of infections in Beni is over, said Salama, depending on the security situation and the willingness of the local community to support the response.

"If, however, this peak accompanied a peak of insecurity that limits our ability to access all these cases and their contacts, we could witness a much larger wave. of this security situation, "said Salama. .

In the latest attack, the United Nations said four civilians were killed near Beni on Tuesday.

Health workers are aware of the number of people potentially exposed to the Ebola virus. According to Mr. Salama, 80 to 90% of the people being monitored are under surveillance, but about 40% or more "actively avoid follow-up", thus increasing the risk of spreading the disease, a- he declared. More than 90 percent of these people were in Beni, he said.

Some Ebola victims are suspicious of health workers, fearing that hospitalization would be a death sentence – despite the obvious risks of missing treatment – while some families insist that traditional burials be conducted, which can spread the virus.

Related: The fight against the Ebola virus is based on a new science but faces old obstacles in a troubled Congo

Local authorities in Beni have threatened people harboring alleged patients with a three-month prison term.

Salama said that Uganda and Rwanda could see cases of Ebola, but that they were both well prepared for a quick response. However, neither approved the vaccine, which could be given as a preventive measure to health workers and "in a few hours" to people at risk of a case. confirmed.

Ebola has no known cure, but four treatments have been administered to 66 patients, which Salama described as "a big step forward".

With Congolese government approval, a clinical trial could begin in a few weeks to identify the most reliable drug, he said.