WHO Chief Urges Safe Burials Amidst Intensifying Ebola Outbreak in DRC

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has made an urgent appeal for safe burial practices and early medical intervention during a visit to Bunia, the epicenter of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The visit, which began with meetings in Kinshasa, highlighted the severity of the outbreak, described as the 17th in the DRC’s history and the third-largest since the virus was first identified.

During his visit to Ituri province, where the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus was first confirmed, Dr. Ghebreyesus met with Congolese health officials. He stressed that the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for this specific strain makes prompt palliative care, including isolation, rehydration, and pain management, absolutely crucial for patient survival. “Seeking care early makes a real difference,” he stated.

Dr. Ghebreyesus also addressed the culturally sensitive issue of burials, acknowledging the deep pain of loss while underscoring the high contagiousness of victims’ bodies. He implored communities to adopt safe burial rituals to prevent further transmission. “While we grieve for those we have lost, we must do everything we can so that we do not lose another,” he urged.

The outbreak has been compounded by attacks on health facilities, with crowds attempting to reclaim bodies for traditional burial practices that often involve direct contact without protective gear. The WHO reported 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths under investigation as of Friday, though the Congolese Health Minister later provided figures of 1,028 suspected cases and 225 confirmed.

Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has voiced concerns that the response is not keeping pace with the epidemic’s rapid spread, noting a critical shortage of basic supplies like masks. Dr. Alan Gonzalez of MSF stated, “Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration.” This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Ghebreyesus, who noted that the WHO has only received about a third of the necessary funding.

Despite these challenges, the Congolese Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, has maintained that the outbreak is not “out of control,” citing the country’s previous experience with Ebola. He also urged neighboring countries to keep their borders open.