The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than thought, and it has currently killed 131 people.

Current Status and Scope of the Disease

According to officials, more than 513 cases were suspected in the DR Congo as of Tuesday, 19 May, while one person has died in neighbouring Uganda.

The WHO’s Dr. Anne Ancia told the BBC that the more investigations occur, the clearer it reveals that more cases have spread to other areas.

A study conducted and released by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis suggested that the outbreak is “larger than currently ascertained,” and its “true magnitude remains uncertain.”

Community Impact and Local Concerns

People living close to the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak have expressed their fear due to the increase in the number of deaths caused by it. One man in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province said people were dying “very fast,” adding, “Ebola has tortured us.”

He further emphasized that locals are doing the best they can to protect themselves by taking necessary precautions, such as washing hands with clean water, but added that he wished they could receive other protective supplies like face masks.

Another Ituri resident, Alfred Giza, added that although community members are doing the best they can to protect themselves, they may not know when a family member or friend has the disease.

The Red Cross also warned that the Ebola outbreak can spread fast if not identified early. Moreover, communities lack information and health systems are overwhelmed.

International Response and Leadership Directives

On Tuesday, DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi called for ‘calm’ and urged Congolese citizens to remain vigilant after holding a crisis meeting on Monday.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who declared the outbreak an international emergency last week, said he was deeply concerned about the scale and spread of the disease.

There is currently no vaccine for this strain of the Ebola virus, which will worsen the situation, but the WHO is evaluating whether other medications may provide protection.

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