Congo: Ebola cases are rising at record pace
The Ebola virus is spreading rapidly in the DRC. In Kinshasa, a city of millions, fears of a serious health crisis are growing. Hospitals are scrambling to prepare for emergencies as best as they can.
The Ebola epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to six provinces, with fears it could reach the capital, Kinshasa, home to 19 million people. Emergency hospitals and facilities are prepared for the worst-case scenario, according to Jean-Jacques Muyembe, head of Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research.
The Ministry of Health has set up Cinquantenaire Hospital to accommodate and isolate patients if necessary. However, the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, responsible for the outbreak, is particularly dangerous and has no approved vaccine or treatment. Despite the rapid spread, the WHO predicts the outbreak will peak in six months.
The outbreak began in February and has claimed 2,000 lives so far, with over 4,300 cases reported. It is believed to have originated in the northeastern Ituri province, which has experienced ongoing insecurity. A recent case in the Maluku port area near Kinshasa prompted a rapid response, though the patient and 200 others on board tested negative for Ebola.
The virus's spread is attributed to population movements and ongoing violence. Emergency capacity at Cinquantenaire Hospital includes 20 beds, expandable to 200-250, but the WHO suggests several thousand more may be needed. Current capacities are deemed insufficient by Carlos Mupili, president of the Supreme Council of Civil Society.
Experts are developing antiviral treatments and vaccines, with promising initial results, but rapid contact tracing remains crucial to control the outbreak.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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