Ebola infections have declined in some areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), but new transmission hotspots and cases crossing borders are complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.
Congolese health officials reported that 8,728 people had been infected as of October 6. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have urged caution in interpreting the falling case figures.
New hotspots challenge outbreak response
The decline in infections in some areas does not reflect the full picture, as new clusters of transmission have emerged. These hotspots are creating additional challenges for the outbreak response and efforts to bring transmission under control.
Cross-border cases have also heightened concern about the spread of Ebola to neighbouring countries. Health agencies have cautioned against treating the decrease in some locations as a sign that the outbreak is under control.
Caution urged over declining figures
The WHO and Africa CDC have stressed the need for caution as officials assess the changing pattern of infections. The combination of lower case figures in some areas, new transmission clusters and cross-border spread continues to complicate the response.
