WHO Urges Halt in DRC Hostilities to Protect Ebola Response Gains

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to protect gains made in fighting the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The organization regrets that attacks and threats against response teams are disrupting lifesaving operations. Ongoing conflict, displacement, and movement restrictions continue to complicate response efforts.

A recent armed attack in the Cantine-Aloya locality resulted in 66 civilian deaths, including three health workers. The WHO appealed for a halt in hostilities to protect communities and health workers and safeguard progress made over the past six months. Three health facilities have been looted, over 1,000 contacts have been lost to follow-up, and three confirmed cases remain unaccounted for.

Insecurity remains one of the greatest obstacles to the response, with over 80 attacks on healthcare since the outbreak was declared. The WHO reported a second attack on the town early on November 11. Since the start of the outbreak six months ago, more than 11,000 cases and 5,400 deaths have been reported.

Children account for more than a quarter of confirmed cases and one-third of all deaths, with seven in 10 children under the age of five who contract Ebola succumbing to the disease. Although the response has slowed transmission in the initial epicentres, between 400 and 500 new cases continue to be reported each week, with the outbreak spreading to 67 health zones across eight provinces.

The WHO noted that contact tracing remained below target, while two-thirds of confirmed deaths occurred in communities, indicating that infections were still being detected too late. Recent imported cases in Kenya and Nigeria underscore the continuing risk of spread beyond national borders.

Delays in paying frontline health workers and responders create tension and slow the response. The WHO assures that the United Nations, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, regional economic bodies, and humanitarian partners are fully mobilized behind government leadership.

The WHO is directing the technical health response, and nearly 100 health and humanitarian partners are present across the affected areas, providing essential health services, including treatment for acute malnutrition. The organization continues to work towards halting the Ebola outbreak and protecting communities and health workers.

Key points

• WHO calls for immediate halt in DRC hostilities to protect Ebola response gains
• Insecurity remains one of the greatest obstacles to the response, with over 80 attacks on healthcare since the outbreak was declared
• Children account for more than a quarter of confirmed cases and one-third of all deaths