United Nations agencies have issued a global emergency alert in response to the Ebola outbreak spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rise in child cases in the North Kivu region has prompted health organizations to pursue a broader intervention.
The outbreak has spread along an approximately one-thousand-kilometer stretch, complicating efforts to contain the disease. The World Health Organization has indicated that the actual number of cases may be higher than official figures due to population movement.
Hundreds of new cases and deaths have been recorded in a short period in the region. Health officials confirmed 676 infections and 136 deaths within three weeks.
The current outbreak is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The number of affected health zones has rapidly increased to 34.
Field Operations Accelerated
UNICEF has deployed thousands of health workers to the region to control the crisis. Sterilization and disinfection efforts in the field involve 1,600 expert personnel and 24 specialized teams.
Field teams have reached over 160,000 families to raise awareness about Ebola risks. International organizations continue to implement emergency plans in cooperation with local authorities.
Increased Controls in Border Areas
The United Nations is intensifying its response program to prevent the crisis from becoming a regional disaster. Teams have decided to increase inspections in border areas to slow the spread.
World Health Organization experts have doubled mobile laboratory capacity in the region, reducing diagnosis time. Neighboring countries have also initiated health screenings at border crossings to mitigate the risk of spread.
