Oluwatobi Adu 
DR CONGO – The DR Congo Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,200 confirmed cases just 100 days after it was declared, with the World Health Organization warning that the epidemic is spreading faster than control efforts and has become the country’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
In a media advisory issued on Monday, the WHO says the outbreak is expanding at an alarming pace, recording an average of about 90 confirmed cases daily during its first three months—significantly higher than the early stages of the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges governments, partners and affected communities to intensify response efforts before the outbreak worsens.
“We can bring the Ebola outbreak under control but only through scaled-up action in affected communities that is led by national, provincial and local leaders and the affected communities, sustained by needed resources and backed by committed collaboration by all partners in DRC and beyond.”
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Janabi says the outbreak has reached a critical stage requiring significantly stronger intervention.
“This outbreak has reached a defining moment. The progress made over the past three months shows that stronger action delivers results, but it also reminds us that incremental gains will not be enough.”
Despite the challenges, WHO reports significant progress over the first 100 days of the response.
Laboratory capacity has expanded from a single testing centre to 19 laboratories capable of processing more than 3,000 samples daily, while treatment capacity has increased from fewer than 10 beds to more than 1,300 beds.
According to the agency, more than 260 WHO experts have been deployed to support the response, alongside the delivery of over 330 tonnes of medical supplies and operational equipment.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Mirian Gom 