The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 1,274 confirmed cases.
Infections among health workers have also risen to 96, according to the agency.
Dr Wazih Cho, Data Analyst and Epidemic Intelligence Officer at Africa CDC, said this on Monday during a webinar on the Ebola outbreak.
“In the past 24 hours, 47 new confirmed Ebola cases and 12 deaths were reported in the DRC, 96 per cent of which originated in Équateur Province.
“Cumulative figures now stand at 1,274 confirmed cases with 360 deaths, indicating sustained transmission at the provincial level,” Cho said.
He said Équateur Province accounted for 45 of the 47 new cases reported, making it the leading hotspot of transmission on the continent.
Cho attributed the spread partly to exposure in health facilities, noting that 92 healthcare workers had been infected in the DRC and four in Uganda, bringing the total to 96.
According to him, confirmed cases have now been reported in 35 health zones across the DRC, indicating widespread transmission beyond the initial epicentre.
“For Uganda, cumulatively we have 20 confirmed cases, mostly spillover from DRC. That includes 15 imported cases, four healthcare worker infections, and two fatalities.
“All Uganda cases are classified under Kampala. Contact follow-up in Uganda stands at 100 per cent, with only nine contacts still under active monitoring. Case fatality in Uganda as of day 27 is 10 per cent,” he said.
Cho said Uganda had recorded no new Ebola case since June 21, although active surveillance remained in place.
He added that 23 of the 36 health areas in Équateur Province had confirmed cases, confirming sustained community transmission within the province.
According to him, North Kivu, which borders Équateur and Uganda, is also reporting cases, while South Kivu has recorded no new infections for at least 30 days after reporting three cases.
Cho said Africa CDC also received alerts on June 28 from Tshopo Province, which borders Ituri Province and South Sudan.
He said two confirmed male cases recorded between June 9 and June 23 suggested the outbreak had spread into a previously unaffected province.
According to Cho, the epidemic curve indicates that the first positive case was detected late, after community transmission had already begun.
He said seven-day and three-day moving averages showed the outbreak remained at or near peak transmission, with modelling projecting additional case increases over the next three weeks.
Cho added that a small number of health zones accounted for about 80 per cent of confirmed cases, while several treatment centres were operating above capacity.
He said more than 20,000 community health workers had been mobilised to strengthen case detection, contact tracing and community sensitisation efforts.
Also speaking, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, former President of the Nigeria Academy of Science, commended Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) for working collaboratively in responding to the outbreak.
Tomori described the One Health approach as an integrated strategy recognising the close links between human, animal and environmental health.
He said that about 70 per cent of emerging infectious diseases were zoonotic, spreading from animals to humans.
“Ebola, SARS, and other viruses reflect this animal-human interface, with diverse modes of transmission and host species,” he said.
Tomori identified deforestation, urban expansion, mining, conflict-driven migration, bushmeat trade, climate change and weak public health systems as major drivers of emerging infectious diseases.
He emphasised that stronger surveillance, early detection and coordinated response systems were essential to preventing and containing outbreaks before they escalated.
Tomori said One Health required veterinarians, physicians, social scientists, engineers and economists to work together to achieve effective outbreak prevention and response.
“It requires veterinarians, physicians, social scientists, engineers, and economists working together,” he said.
Comparing the approach to building a house, he said different professionals must collaborate, communicate and contribute their expertise to achieve a common goal.
“Similarly, outbreak response needs professionals from different fields collaborating, cooperating, and communicating to detect, prevent, and respond effectively,” he said.
Tomori said the outbreak remained active, with the DRC at its centre and Uganda maintaining control through sustained surveillance.
He added that only a coordinated One Health approach could interrupt transmission and reduce the risk of future disease outbreaks.