KINSHASA, July 23– New Ebola infections in some affected provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are showing early signs of stabilization, though it remains too soon to determine whether the outbreak has reached its peak, a health official said Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Bunia, capital of the eastern Ituri province and the epicenter of the outbreak, Adelard Lufongola, operations manager for the national Ebola response coordination, said case notifications had entered a plateau, with a slight downward trend.
“But epidemiologically, it is still too early to say that we have reached the peak of the outbreak,” Lufongola said.
Response capacity has continued to expand, with 23 Ebola treatment centers, 19 operational laboratories and nearly 800 beds now available in affected regions, according to Lufongola.
Despite the progress, community resistance, insecurity and the geographical spread of the outbreak remain major challenges, he said, stressing that early detection, public trust in health facilities and adherence to preventive measures are essential to breaking chains of transmission.
The latest government figures show that the DRC has recorded 2,473 confirmed cases as of July 20, including 999 deaths and 482 recoveries. A total of 737 patients remain in isolation or under hospital care.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, was declared on May 15 and has affected five provinces in eastern DRC. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
