The United Nations will release around $60 million from an emergency fund to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials announced.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the funding will help scale up response teams and strengthen containment measures in affected regions.
“We must get ahead of this Ebola outbreak,” Fletcher wrote on X, warning that the situation is unfolding in conflict-affected and highly mobile population areas.
Ebola outbreak linked to deadly strain
Health experts say the Ebola outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.
The virus is believed to have circulated for around two months in Ituri province before being detected last week.
Authorities estimate around 160 deaths may be linked to the Ebola outbreak, with approximately 670 suspected cases reported so far.
Security challenges and public unrest
The response has been complicated by insecurity and public resistance in affected areas.
In the town of Ruambara, protesters reportedly set fire to treatment tents after authorities refused to release the body of a man suspected to have died from Ebola for burial.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing safe burial practices, which are critical in preventing further transmission of the virus.
Health officials stress that Ebola can spread through contact with infected bodies, making unsafe funerals one of the main drivers of transmission.
Early spread traced to funeral gathering
Authorities say the first known case of the current Ebola outbreak was recorded in Bunia on 24 April.
The virus is believed to have spread after the victim’s body was transported to Mongbwalu, where relatives and friends gathered for funeral ceremonies, accelerating transmission in the region.
International agencies continue to scale up operations as they attempt to contain the Ebola outbreak in one of the most volatile regions of the country.
Source: CNA
Also read: What is Ebola and why is stopping the latest outbreak so difficult?
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