Ebola cases are rising sharply in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, even as infections decline in neighbouring Ituri.
Cases in North Kivu increased by 73% this month, according to an Associated Press report carried by Africanews. Meanwhile, Ituri recorded a 26% decline over the same period.
Until now, Ituri had been the main centre of the outbreak.
North Kivu Ebola cases rise sharply
The increase in North Kivu Ebola cases has put additional pressure on health facilities.
Cases have been reported across the province, including in Beni and rural communities.
Mabalako General Hospital is the only facility treating Ebola patients in the rural community it serves, according to the report.
The World Health Organization visited the hospital last week as part of efforts to strengthen its response capacity.
However, health officials say treatment facilities are under growing pressure.
Guy Mutombo, an operations officer for North Kivu’s Ebola response, said treatment centres were almost completely full.
He said authorities were proposing isolation or Ebola treatment centres in each health zone. This would allow incoming patients to receive care closer to where cases are detected.
Ituri records decline in Ebola cases
The situation is moving in a different direction in neighbouring Ituri.
Cases there fell by 26% this month, according to the report. The decline offers a sign of improvement in the province, which had been the outbreak’s epicentre.
However, the sharp increase in North Kivu is creating new concerns for health authorities.
North Kivu was also affected by the major Ebola outbreak between 2018 and 2020, which killed thousands of people.
Health teams are now working to increase treatment capacity as cases spread across both urban and rural areas of the province.