Ebola outbreak out of control in Democratic Republic of the Congo, WHO says: ‘It is spreading faster than our ability to contain it’
Over 5,000 people have contracted the disease and 2,420 have died in an epidemic that is already the deadliest in the country’s history, hitting communities displaced by war
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000, according to government data released late on Tuesday. Health officials are expressing concern that response efforts are proving ineffective in containing the deadly disease. The country's 17th Ebola epidemic, which began in late July, has become the biggest in the nation's history in terms of case numbers.
As of the latest public health institute report, there have been 5,021 cases, marking it as the second-worst outbreak globally, only surpassed by the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic in terms of both infections and fatalities.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a strain for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, it has gained momentum as a combination of factors has hampered efforts to identify and respond to cases. These include weak health infrastructure, resistance from communities, instability, and protests by response workers.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
