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Congo's Ebola outbreak spreads to 2 new health zones
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has expanded to 60 health zones in eastern Congo, with 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths, according to government data.
- The outbreak is spreading rapidly in North Kivu province's Biena and Manguredjipa zones, where delayed response efforts have led to a higher fatality rate than the overall 48%.
- Insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike, and intense population movements are complicating containment efforts, with the WHO warning the outbreak remains out of control and may surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic.
- Congo has started vaccinating frontline health workers with the Ervebo vaccine, effective against the Zaire strain, while clinical trials continue for a vaccine targeting the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for this outbreak.
- The majority of cases are concentrated in Ituri province, and neighboring countries like the Central African Republic and South Sudan face high risks of cross-border spread despite Uganda recently declaring itself Ebola-free.
