The Ebola virus is continuing its spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cases have now topped 3.200 while deaths are at 1,405. The outbreak has now spread across 48 health zones in five provinces.
The official statistics put the overall case fatality rate at 43.9%. Currently, only 571 patients have recovered, while 773 people remain in isolation or are hospitalized with an ongoing infection.
Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed Ebola infections, including two deaths and 18 recoveries, according to official figures. France has reported one imported case linked to the outbreak, with the patient having since recovered.
According to a report by RT, Ituri remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 28 affected health zones. North Kivu has reported cases in 11 health zones. South Kivu currently has only one affected zone, where officials say no new confirmed infections have been detected for 60 days and surveillance continues. Cases have also been recorded in five health zones in Haut-Uele and three in Tshopo.
On Thursday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that a lack of international support in helping combat this outbreak could hamper efforts to contain it. Already, the strike is limiting access to care in affected communities. The WHO chief urged the international community to continue to support the DR Congo, saying: “The people of DRC cannot face this outbreak alone. They need sustained support from the international community. And above all, they need peace.”
More Health Workers Strike At Ebola Centers
The health authorities continue to add additional medical teams, laboratories, and healthcare facilities. While these are being deployed in Ituri, ongoing efforts with contact tracing, border screening, and community awareness campaigns are being expanded to curb further transmission.
The current outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus, in northeastern DRC and Uganda’s capital Kampala. This outbreak is spreading substantially faster than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the third largest Ebola outbreak on record, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).