New Ebola and Massive Measles Outbreak Declared in Congo Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a new Ebola outbreak, more than 620 miles from the ongoing epidemic- since 2018 in the country's east. Health minister Eteni Longondo has confirmed four deaths in Mbandaka, who tested positive at the national biomedical laboratory in the capital Kinshasa.

"We have a new Ebola epidemic in Mbandaka. We are going to very quickly send them the vaccine and medicine," Longondo told the reporters.

The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has confirmed the outbreak in his twitter post. Now, not only does Congo faces the threat of COVID-19, but also the epidemic of Ebola.

New Ebola outbreak confirmed in Congo

Officials of DR Congo have confirmed on Monday, June 1, that there is a new Ebola outbreak with six cases so far-three of them confirmed, and three suspected. Four of these cases have already died while the other two are still being treated, reported by ARS Technica.

The World Health Organization has warned officials that there will be more Ebola cases as the outbreak responses ramp up. It is now the 11^th recorded in Congo since the disease was discovered in the country in 1976.

Although the country is suffering from the ongoing 10^th outbreak, which began in 2018 on the country's eastern part, officials believe that the current outbreak is unrelated to it. The North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces are currently fighting the 10^th outbreak of Ebola which has included 3,463 cases, and 2, 280 deaths, making it the second-largest outbreak recorded.

It is believed that the outbreak is in its final stages as health workers have not identified a new case since April 27. The last person that has tested positive has survived and was released from treatment on May 14.

Starting that day, the 42-day countdown commenced signifying two incubation periods for Ebola before experts can officially declare that the 10^th Ebola outbreak is over. However, just days away before declaring the outbreak over, a new cluster of cases was discovered.

World's Largest Measles Outbreak

So, what could possibly be worse than a simultaneous outbreak of Ebola and COVID-19? Well, that is adding another outbreak in the mix-measles.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been battling on of the world's largest measles outbreak since 2019, with 369,520 cases and 6,779 deaths.

Not to mention, Congo has also reported 3,195 confirmed cases of COVID-199 and 72 deaths because of the virus.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said that the new Ebola outbreak is "happening at a challenging time." The UN health organization has already sent its members in Mbandaka to help with the response but is also sending additional support teams to help increase the response efforts.

It is vital that something must be done immediately given that the proximity of the new outbreak to the busy transport routes and vulnerable neighboring countries, said Dr. Moeti.

While WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanon Ghebreysus noted that the new outbreak in Congo is a reminder that the world is fighting against COVID-19, there are also many other diseases that should be addressed.

Although much of the world's attention is now in monitoring the COVID-19 cases, WHO is continuing its efforts to monitor and respond to many other health emergencies.