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Ebola Outbreak: "Blind Spots" Fuel Wider Spread Fears
12 Jun
Summary
- WHO expert warns of "blind spots" in Congo's Ebola outbreak.
- Disease spread may be far wider than official estimates suggest.
- Limited beds hamper efforts to isolate patients in affected provinces.
A World Health Organization epidemiologist has expressed concern over numerous "blind spots" within the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak. These undetected areas suggest the deadly virus may be circulating more widely than currently reported. The outbreak has recently expanded to three new health zones, with official figures indicating 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths.
Olivier le Polain, a WHO epidemiologist in Beni, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen surveillance in high-risk areas where these "blind spots" exist. Adding to the challenges, a severe shortage of hospital beds for isolating patients restricts response capabilities. Currently, only 250 beds are available across the three most affected provinces.
The epidemic is characterized by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no specific vaccine or treatment has been approved. This situation has led to first responders playing catch-up, as the disease reportedly went undetected for weeks. The WHO has not yet released projections for the epidemic's potential size.
