British News Agency

According to CCTV, the Ebola outbreak in areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where conflict continues is progressing under extraordinary conditions and remains difficult to contain, according to health experts.

Ahmed Ogwell, President and CEO of the global health organization VillageReach, told China Global Television Network (CGTN) that there are serious challenges associated with the spread of the outbreak.

Ogwell stated that because the outbreak was detected late, the actual number of cases may have been higher from the outset, and that ongoing conflict has made it difficult for health teams to access affected areas.

He also emphasized that the absence of an approved treatment or vaccine limits intervention to basic public health measures, while the proximity of border regions increases the risk of the disease spreading to neighboring countries.

According to data from the DRC Ministry of Health, 837 confirmed cases and 196 deaths have been recorded in the country.

Ogwell stressed that community engagement is the most critical step in combating the outbreak, stating: “Communication should be conducted in a language the community understands, using messages that respect cultural sensitivities.”