Don't panic, support DR Congo in fight against deadly Ebola virus, UN health agency urges.

Ebola virus is just one challenge among many facing communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, reiterating an appeal for the international community to show support and solidarity for its people.

Speaking in Geneva, spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris noted that measles has already killed more people this year than the Ebola outbreak, which began last August.

According to WHO, more than 2,000 people have died from measles in 2019, while the Ebola outbreak which began last August in Ituri and Nord Kivu provinces has claimed 1,705 lives.

Measles 'a bigger problem than Ebola'

'They see it as a bigger problem than Ebola', she said. 'It's not top of their agenda; they'd like good roads, they'd like clean water, they'd like to know their children can reach their fifth birthday and not die from measles.'

In addition to measles and malaria and a lack of basic services, since early June, more than 300,000 people in the resource-rich Ebola-hit provinces of Ituri and North Kivu on the eastern side of the country bordering Uganda and Rwanda, have been displaced by violence linked to armed groups, according to UN humanitarian coordination agency, OCHA.

Dr. Harris expressed optimism that the global attention generated by the decision earlier this week to classify the outbreak an international public health emergency, might focus attention on securing a more peaceful and sustainable future for DRC's struggling communities.

'Do not shut borders or put travel restrictions on DRC'

'Essentially for the rest of the world, the main recommendation is: support DRC and don't panic,' she said. 'Do not shut borders. Do not put on travel and trade restrictions. Do not panic.'

Noting that the expert panel which advised WHO to declare an international emergency was aware of the potential damage it could cause to DRC's economy, Dr. Harris said that, so far, 'the world's been pretty good' at not shutting out the vast central African country.

Infected fish trader 'did not travel to Rwanda'

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