The Democratic Republic of the Congo has requested access to experimental Ebola antibody treatments following a sharp rise in infections in the east of the country. This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to the Ministry of Health of the Congo, UNN reports.
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As of May 26, 121 confirmed cases of Ebola and 17 deaths have been recorded in the country, while the number of suspected infections has exceeded 1,000. The most difficult situation is observed in Ituri province, where 16 new confirmed cases were recorded recently.
The WHO warns that hostilities, population displacement, and a lack of medical resources are accelerating the spread of the disease.
WHO warns of the threat of spread
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that eastern Congo is experiencing a "catastrophic combination of war and disease."
"We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,"
Congo has already officially requested access to an experimental monoclonal antibody developed in the US, which has shown efficacy against several Ebola strains, including the Bundibugyo strain. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain. Authorities also reported problems with contact tracing, delays in laboratory results, and a shortage of isolation centers.