WHO says global Ebola risk remains low despite rising cases in Africa

GENEVA -- The global risk posed by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa remains low despite rising case numbers in the affected region, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, Tedros said the Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has so far resulted in 1,094 reported cases, including 277 deaths. Neighboring Uganda has also recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths.

Despite efforts to scale up response measures and strengthen disease surveillance and detection capacities, significant challenges remain, Tedros said, warning that "the outbreak is continuing to outpace the response."

Contact tracing remains below the required level, while treatment and isolation capacities are insufficient and safe, dignified burials continue to pose major challenges, he said. The health system is under pressure, border closures are hampering response efforts, security incidents persist, and funding remains inadequate, he added.

Tedros said clinical trials of two Ebola therapeutics are expected to begin next week. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Meanwhile, France has reported an Ebola case involving a healthcare worker with the NGO ALIMA who recently returned from the DRC after caring for Ebola patients, according to WHO.

The patient has been monitored since arriving in Paris and is receiving treatment, said Abdirahman Mahamud, director of WHO's Health Emergency Alert and Response Operations.

"At present, the patient is doing well, experiencing mild symptoms and fever," Mahamud said, adding that WHO appreciated the swift response by French authorities in providing care and implementing recommended public health measures.

Mahamud also warned that healthcare workers responding to the outbreak were operating in an exceptionally high-risk environment. As of Wednesday, seven security incidents targeting Ebola response personnel had been reported.

A total of 82 healthcare workers have been infected during the outbreak response, including 78 in the DRC and four in Uganda, he said.

The DRC is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak, which was declared in mid-May. The outbreak has affected the eastern part of the country and spread to neighboring Uganda.