Congo says the death toll in fastest-growing Ebola outbreak has passed 1,500
KSL.com • • health
Key Points:
- The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has resulted in over 1,500 deaths and 3,442 cases as of Tuesday, marking a 50% increase within a week and making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the region.
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments, and response efforts are hindered by delays in contact tracing, community mistrust, violence, and difficulties accessing affected areas.
- Nearly 90% of cases are concentrated in Ituri province, with other cases reported in five provinces including Kisangani; neighboring Uganda has declared itself free of Ebola after discharging its last patient in mid-June.
- Unsafe burial practices and misinformation have led to 63% of recent Ebola deaths occurring outside treatment centers, and attacks on health facilities have forced international aid groups to temporarily relocate, disrupting response activities.
- Despite the global risk of Ebola spread being low, the World Health Organization considers the risk within Congo to be very high due to ongoing transmission and challenges in controlling the outbreak.
