More than 1,400 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
An Ebola outbreak is ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the start of the epidemic in late April, 3,200 cases have been confirmed, and the death toll has risen to 1,405.
According to health authorities, the disease’s fatality rate stands at 43.9%. Nearly 90% of all cases have been reported in Ituri Province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan.
Experts suggest that the actual number of infected people may be significantly higher, as some cases remain undetected. At the same time, authorities attribute the sharp rise in statistics to expanded testing and improvements in the system for identifying patients.
Experts warn that the outbreak, which has already spread to five provinces, could last several more months. Furthermore, strikes by healthcare workers over delayed salary payments are complicating efforts to combat the epidemic.
Source: DW.
It was previously reported that the 17th Ebola outbreak had been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has already claimed the lives of 80 people. This time, the disease was likely caused by the little-studied Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, rather than the more common Zaire ebolavirus.
Ethiopia has recorded its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, which is clinically similar to Ebola. The pathogen is capable of spreading rapidly, but there are no vaccines against it.
