WHO Reports Ebola Cases in DR Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Calls for Stronger Surveillance
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for strengthened regional surveillance and coordinated response efforts following reports of Bundibugyo virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya and Nigeria.
The organisation disclosed in a statement on Friday that the DRC had recorded 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths as of October 20, representing a crude case fatality ratio of 48.3 per cent across 66 health zones in eight provinces.
According to the WHO, transmission remained high in the DRC, while deaths recorded in communities highlighted persistent challenges in detecting cases early and ensuring timely access to appropriate medical care.
It said 482 additional deaths had been recorded since its previous update on October 8, with 307 occurring in communities and 175 in treatment centres.
The WHO also reported that Kenya had recorded nine cases of Bundibugyo virus disease, including one death, following confirmation of its first imported case on October 6.
The initial case involved an individual who travelled from the DRC through Uganda, while eight additional cases were identified among known contacts of the patient.
As of October 20, the organisation said there was no evidence of wider community transmission in Kenya.
Nigeria also confirmed an imported case on October 20 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The patient, who had travelled from Uganda, was receiving medical care in isolation, while investigations were ongoing to establish the individual’s complete travel history and possible source of exposure.
The WHO urged authorities across the region to strengthen preparedness measures and cross-border surveillance to prevent further spread of the disease.
It stressed the importance of monitoring points of entry, promptly identifying suspected cases and coordinating public health responses among affected and at-risk countries.
The organisation further advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on affected countries, emphasising that sustained public health interventions and regional cooperation remained essential to containing the outbreak.
