By Ukumbi Afrika 
Geneva— The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is still a possibility of bringing the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo under control within three months, despite the disease currently spreading faster than containment efforts.
The WHO had earlier this month said the outbreak could potentially be reversed within a three-month period. However, the situation has since deteriorated, with the outbreak spreading into a sixth province.
Dr. Thierno Balde, WHO incident manager for the response, said the three-month target remained achievable if sufficient resources were made available.
"Yes, if you have the necessary resources, I think it will be possible to do that, " Balde told reporters by video link from Bunia.
The outbreak has become increasingly difficult to contain as health authorities struggle to keep pace with new infections and identify transmission chains. Reuters reported that the current outbreak has become the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo's history, surpassing the country's 2018–2020 epidemic.
The WHO's assessment highlights the importance of rapidly scaling up surveillance, contact tracing, treatment capacity and other response measures to prevent further expansion.
For Congo and its regional neighbours, the effectiveness and speed of the response over the coming weeks will be critical to determining whether the outbreak can be brought under control within the three-month window.
Source: Reuters
Reporting: Emma Farge
Editing: Friederike Heine