The planned India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi has been postponed following growing concerns over the worsening Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a joint statement released on Thursday, Indian authorities and the African Union said the decision was taken because of the “evolving health situation” affecting parts of Africa and the need to ensure full participation by African leaders and delegates.
The outbreak has intensified in eastern DRC, where health officials recently confirmed the first Ebola case in South Kivu province, an area currently under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. The patient, a 28-year-old man reportedly travelling from Kisangani, died before laboratory confirmation of the disease.
According to the World Health Organization, the current outbreak has already resulted in 139 suspected deaths and around 600 suspected infections, making it one of the country’s most serious Ebola emergencies in recent years.
Health experts say efforts to contain the virus are being complicated by ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC, especially clashes involving the M23 rebels. The rebel group has pledged cooperation with international health agencies, but aid workers warn that insecurity and limited access to affected communities are slowing response efforts.
Neighbouring Uganda has also raised its alert level after confirming a case linked to travel from the DRC. Authorities there have suspended flights to the DRC and increased health screening measures.
The outbreak has additionally triggered international concern. The United States Department of State announced tighter entry screening for travellers arriving from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. US officials said passengers from affected countries would undergo enhanced health checks at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Aid organisations say the response is being hampered by shortages of medical supplies and reduced foreign assistance, particularly cuts in humanitarian funding from major donor countries.
The latest Ebola outbreak is the 17th recorded in the DRC, a country that has faced repeated epidemics over the past several decades.
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