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The United Nations has warned that Ebola could spread rapidly through displacement camps in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where overcrowding is increasing the risk of transmission.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said confirmed Ebola cases had been reported at least 16 displacement sites in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak.
“More than 270,000 displaced people live in these sites, where overcrowding and limited access to basic services are increasing the risk of disease transmission,” OCHA said in a statement on Monday.
The UN and its humanitarian partners are installing handwashing stations and conducting community outreach on Ebola prevention measures, it said.
Ebola spreads through close contact with infected people or contaminated bodily fluids.
Cases have so far been reported in five provinces of the DRC and neighbouring Uganda.
According to the World Health Organization, the DRC has recorded 2,344 confirmed Ebola cases, including 930 deaths. More than 460 patients have recovered, while 192 suspected cases remain under investigation.
The outbreak is now the third-largest Ebola epidemic on record.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 following several deaths in Ituri, a mineral-rich province plagued by numerous armed groups.
“Needs continue to outpace available resources,” OCHA warned, calling for increased international support to sustain the Ebola response and provide life-saving assistance to displaced communities already facing years of conflict, displacement and deteriorating living conditions.
The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments are currently available.
