Ituri province in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is witnessing a marked acceleration in the number of Ebola virus infections and deaths, amid fears that the disease is spreading through hidden chains within local communities.
Factors hampering surveillance and containment
Efforts to monitor and contain the disease are facing growing difficulties in areas affected by wars and armed conflicts, as these conditions limit the ability to track infections and identify chains of transmission.
Fears of hidden chains of transmission
The possibility of undetected chains of transmission within local communities is raising fears that the virus could spread more widely, amid difficulties in detecting infections and tracing contacts in a timely manner.
Overlapping challenges in outbreak areas
In outbreak areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict, displacement, mining activities, a weak health system and high population mobility are converging, exacerbating the challenges of tracking infections and curbing the spread of the virus.
