NRC Calls for Urgent Action as Ebola Cases Exceed 10,000

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported that over 10,000 people have tested positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), with nearly half of those infected succumbing to the disease. The NRC has urged for an urgent scale-up of response efforts to contain the outbreak, which has raised concerns following confirmed cases in Kenya and Nigeria.

In a statement, the NRC indicated that the ongoing Bundibugyo virus outbreak has severely impacted communities, particularly in Ituri, a region already suffering from prolonged conflict and mass displacement. Silvia Beccacece, the NRC’s emergency team leader, emphasized the dire situation during her visits to affected areas, noting that the current government response is inadequate.

She stated that the confirmed cases should serve as a wake-up call for leaders to take necessary actions to control the transmission of the virus and support the affected communities.