WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak 'Far From Over' Despite Declining Transmission Rates

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported encouraging signs in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that transmission rates are declining in Ituri province, which is one of the most affected areas.

As of September 11, the country had reported over 7,000 confirmed Ebola cases. The outbreak has spread to a seventh province and has been described as the second most lethal on record behind the one that occurred from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa.

WHO's acting director of epidemic and pandemic threat management, Maria Van Kerkhove, emphasized that while there are positive developments, the outbreak is 'far from over.' She noted that improved surveillance could lead to an increase in detected cases, and contact-tracing efforts have also increased.

The WHO has been working on vaccination efforts, with more than 3,000 healthcare and frontline workers having received Merck's Ervebo vaccine. However, the effectiveness of this vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus driving the current outbreak is unknown, and an observational study to assess its efficacy is expected to begin shortly.