The shortage of tests is delaying efforts to combat Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the expected arrival on Tuesday (26th) of six tons of medical supplies to support the response to the outbreak, said Anne Ancia, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative in the country.
According to the organization, there are at least 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths from Ebola, which has also spread to the neighboring country of Uganda.
“We have sent 12 tons of supplies. Another six tons are arriving today. Among the materials are personal protective equipment for frontline health workers and samples,” the WHO representative said.
Ancia pointed to “great uncertainty” regarding the size and extent of the Bundibugyo strain outbreak, adding that efforts are underway to strengthen surveillance, testing, and contact tracing.
According to the official, tests for the Bundibugyo strain are limited, with only about six tests per hour possible. The outbreak took weeks to be detected, she explained, partly because the tests used in the affected area were designed for the more common Zaire strain.
“Surveillance and investigation capacity is very limited in this region in general,” she said.
BioFire Defense, a subsidiary of the French diagnostics company bioMérieux, produces an FDA-approved test — the BioFire Global Fever Special Pathogens Panel — capable of detecting multiple Ebola virus species, including the Bundibugyo strain.
A company spokesperson said production capacity is being increased to support response efforts.
“BioFire Defense is actively engaged with public health authorities and international contacts to monitor the evolution of the outbreak and assess possible support needs,” the spokesperson said.
Anne Ancia added that funding shortages are having a major impact on the organization’s ability to fight Ebola.
The United States formally left the WHO in January and, under President Donald Trump, drastically reduced global health spending. Nevertheless, Ancia said cooperation with Washington in responding to the outbreak is working “very well.”
“We understand that we may not receive funding, but we want to continue dialogue, exchange information, and collaborate,” she said.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) reported that it has received only 34% of the $1.4 billion requested in its funding appeal for the Democratic Republic of Congo this year, noting that more than half of that amount came from Washington.
