Ebola outbreak spreads to new province in DR Congo
More than 2,000 people have been killed so far, almost three times the number that had died at this point during the worst Ebola outbreak before now over a decade ago.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to a sixth province, with health authorities warning it could become the deadliest in history. Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, reported the first death in Bas-Uele province, where the infected individual had traveled from Haut-Uele. There are no vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus causing the current outbreak, which has resulted in over 2,100 deaths and more than 4,500 cases.
This rapid spread contrasts sharply with the 2014-16 West African outbreak, where the death toll was reached much more slowly. The WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, believes the current outbreak could surpass the worst in history. The outbreak's progress is exacerbated by factors such as health worker strikes, rebel threats, community trauma, and misinformation dismissing Ebola's existence.
Health workers at a treatment center in Ituri province went on strike, causing a temporary shutdown. The true extent of the outbreak remains unclear, as it was first reported on May 15, but recent sequencing suggests the outbreak began in February. Health authorities estimate that 60% to 70% of new cases are recorded outside of monitored contacts, and the disease is spreading at an alarming rate.
Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, stated, "We are chasing the virus; the virus is ahead of us."
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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