UN agency warns that Ebola outbreak in Congo (DRC) could severely impact regional economy

The United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization have warned that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading at a rate that exceeds the current response capabilities, potentially leading to more widespread social and economic impacts.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the latest report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa on Tuesday (June 30) indicated that the current outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus remains "active" and is continuing to spread in various parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The current overall response efforts "are still below the level required for rapid containment of the spread".

An assessment report released by the United Nations Development Programme in Kinshasa on the same day warns that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is triggering a far-reaching social and economic crisis, potentially pushing 985,000 people into poverty. If the impact of the epidemic intensifies further, the economy of the African region could suffer losses of up to 3.6 billion US dollars.

The latest Ebola epidemic data released by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 30 shows that the total number of confirmed cases across the country has risen to 1,333, with 399 deaths. Currently, 609 patients are under isolation or treatment, and 189 have recovered.

The African Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued a statement on the same day, calling for urgent fundraising to support the clinical trials of a candidate treatment drug for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus. The relevant clinical trials will be launched this week in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, which is the epicenter of the epidemic.

The director of the African Center for Disease Control, Kasaya, said in a statement: "We already have a scientific plan. Now we need funds to implement this plan."

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, announced in a national speech the previous day that the government has formulated a comprehensive epidemic response plan with a total budget of 319 million US dollars. The government has also urgently allocated the first batch of funds to support frontline epidemic prevention efforts and curb the spread of the epidemic.