Despite hopes for containment, the Ebola outbreak in Congo is gaining momentum – Médecins Sans Frontières
Kyiv • UNN
In the DR Congo, 1,100 suspected cases of Ebola and 250 deaths due to a rare strain of the virus have been registered. The disease has already reached neighboring Uganda and Brazil.
The Ebola outbreak situation in Ituri province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is causing serious concern. This was reported by the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, according to UNN.
Details
According to the organization, the number of cases recorded in the short time since the epidemic was declared is unprecedented. Since mid-May, when the outbreak became known, at least 1,100 suspected cases and about 250 suspected deaths have been registered in the country.
WHO Director-General states that Ebola outbreak in Congo can be stopped29.05.26, 06:38 • 3476 views
The World Health Organization believes that the real scale of the virus's spread could be significantly larger. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Ituri province and urged local residents to become more actively involved in anti-epidemic measures.
Cases are also being recorded outside of Congo
During the visit, the head of the WHO emphasized that traditional burial rites remain one of the main factors in the spread of the virus, as contact with the bodies of those who died from Ebola poses a high risk of infection.
Amid Ebola outbreak in Congo, experts warn of link to bushmeat30.05.26, 21:18 • 3662 views
Neighboring Uganda has already reported nine confirmed cases and one fatality. Meanwhile, in Brazil, medics are testing a 37-year-old man for the infection; he recently returned from Congo and is currently in isolation.
The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no proven effective vaccine. According to experts, the mortality rate for this variant of the virus reaches about one-third of all infection cases.