The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in its latest situation report, published on Wednesday, that the Ebola virus outbreak, which has already claimed over 4,600 lives, is complicated by the spread of the virus to other African countries, while cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have recovered after a brief decline.
The WHO Regional Office for Africa noted that 'the seven-day average indicates a moderate upward trend, suggesting a resumption of increasing transmission,' emphasizing the 'expansion of the international dimension of the outbreak and growing complexity.'
According to the report, 1,466 confirmed cases were registered in the DRC between September 29 and October 19, which is 10.4% more than in the previous 21-day period. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed deaths increased by 7.5%, reaching 692 cases.
As of October 19, 9,637 confirmed cases and 4,646 deaths were recorded in eight of the 26 provinces of the DRC.
Meanwhile, the international spread of the outbreak has added a new level of complexity to containment efforts. Nine confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kenya; all eight secondary infections are linked to an imported case and were found among individuals under quarantine, according to the WHO.
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case on Tuesday, linked to a woman who had traveled from Uganda earlier this month. Uganda intensified Ebola screening at Entebbe International Airport following reports that the woman had transited through the airport in early October.
The WHO warned that the long interval between symptom onset and laboratory confirmation raises concerns about 'potentially undetected contacts and secondary transmission.'
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warned on Tuesday that the outbreak has become the most geographically extensive Ebola epidemic in history, with reports of infections in Central, East, and West Africa. The Director General of Africa CDC, Jane Kasye, called for greater global solidarity and international support to prevent further transmission.
In its latest assessment, the WHO stated that the outbreak remains at a 'critical point,' warning that increased instability, population displacement, and limited humanitarian access in the DRC 'further complicate response operations and increase the risk of undetected transmission.'