Ebola: Over 2,000 dead in DR Congo as virus gathers pace
Authorities in the DRC say the Ebola virus is killing faster than any outbreak on record. Scientists say it began sooner than thought, may have been transmitted from animals to humans and is gaining momentum.
Over 2,000 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a particularly aggressive strain of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus continues to spread, according to health authorities. The outbreak, now the 17th in the country's history, has seen more than 4,380 infections recorded. Sania Nishtar of the Gavi global vaccine alliance warns that this outbreak could surpass the worst ever, which claimed 3,500 lives between 2018 and 2020.
The current epidemic is spreading rapidly, with a case fatality rate of 45.9%, higher than the 39.6% seen in the 2014-2016 West African outbreak. Health officials have declared the outbreak on May 15, but the first transmissions likely occurred in February. Despite the availability of vaccines for some strains, there are no approved treatments for the Bundibugyo strain currently spreading in the DRC.
Logistical challenges due to security issues, poor infrastructure, and labor disputes are hindering efforts to control the virus. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba stated that while they haven't reached the peak yet, they expect to see a decline in the next three months. The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively tracking the virus, but the situation remains precarious.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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