Kinshasa / Ituri Province: Fear and panic continue to rise in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) following the deadly Ebola outbreak that has already claimed more than 136 lives, according to health officials. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the virus may be spreading faster than initially estimated.
Residents living near the epicentre of the outbreak in the north-eastern Ituri province told international media that the situation is becoming increasingly alarming. One local resident described the suffering caused by the disease, stating that infected people were dying “very fast” and added, “Ebola has tortured us.”
Authorities have so far reported more than 514 suspected Ebola cases across the country, while neighbouring Uganda has also confirmed one death linked to the outbreak, raising fears of cross-border transmission.
WHO representative Dr. Anne Ancia stated that ongoing investigations indicate the virus has likely spread to additional regions beyond the originally identified areas. Health experts are now concerned that the real number of infections could be far higher than official reports suggest.
A recent study by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis suggested that there may have been “substantial under-detection” of cases. Researchers warned that the outbreak could already have exceeded 1,000 infections, although the exact scale remains uncertain.
Local residents say communities are attempting to protect themselves by maintaining hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing with clean water. However, many people are urgently requesting better access to safety equipment including face masks and medical supplies.
International health agencies continue to monitor the outbreak closely while emergency response teams work to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Reported by DPCI News Desk
