Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Spreading Exponentially, UN Responders Warn
[UN News] As the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's history continued spreading on Friday, UN responders renewed their urgent appeal for immediate international support, with existing funding for lifesaving work critically low.
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in over 2,500 deaths. According to the UN coordinator, the virus is spreading exponentially. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has recorded 5,290 confirmed cases.
Congo has received 16,250 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, part of 70,000 doses expected from the World Health Organization and partners. The vaccine is licensed to treat Ebola and has been effective in past outbreaks, and the WHO said it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus.
The current outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate and is on track to surpass the deadliest outbreak on record, which killed over 11,000 people across West Africa between 2014 and 2016, according to Associated Press. The existing pool of funds for the outbreak response is set to run out within weeks.
Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, The Korea Times, Associated Press, Winnipeg Free Press, Ynetnews Culture — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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