"80% of new patients confirmed are coming outside of known contact lists” in the heart of the outbreak in Bunia, Ituri province, WHO Emergencies Director Chikwe Ihekweazu said Thursday.
The Ebola outbreak, declared in mid-May, has so far infected nearly 1,800 people and killed 625, according to government data released on Thursday. But WHO estimates based on modelling and test positivity rates suggest the outbreak may be between two and four times larger than the number of confirmed cases, Ihekweazu said.
However, in areas with fewer cases, like North Kivu province, almost all new cases are coming from the contact lists, he added, a sign of some progress.
Strengthening surveillance remains the biggest challenge for response measures. Local authorities have begun training 21,000 community health workers to conduct house-to-house visits, identify suspected cases and encourage people with symptoms to seek care.
