In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN health teams and partners are still racing to contain the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak, despite ongoing insecurity in eastern areas where the virus has taken hold. As of 19 July, the DRC Government has recorded 2,423 confirmed cases, including 967 deaths and 469 recoveries.
Key points
– Fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
– No approved vaccine or treatment exists.
– Violent instability hampering disease surveillance and care.
– Early detection remains critical to saving lives.
“The outbreak has been reported in five provinces, but the province of Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 90 per cent of cases and also 80 per cent of deaths,” said Dr. Thierno Baldé, World Health Organization (WHO) Incident Manager. In addition to Ituri, the other impacted provinces are North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva from Bunia, capital of Ituri province and at the heart of the outbreak, Dr. Baldé confirmed that the Bundibugyo virus behind this latest Ebola outbreak is also extending its reach to new areas in the eastern region, where chronic instability and the threat of conflict have combined with highly mobile and often displaced populations to create ideal conditions for the infection to spread.
Source: The UN
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