Ebola deaths in Congo exceed 5,000 as virus spreads
The Bundibugyo virus outbreak has killed 5,026 people and infected 10,351 individuals, according to government data.
Ebola deaths in Congo have surpassed 5,000 as the country manages a widespread outbreak, according to The New Indian Express on Saturday. Congolese Ministry of Health data shows that 5,026 people have died out of 10,351 confirmed infections, representing a lethality rate of nearly 50 per cent.
The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May. It has spread to 67 of the country's 178 health zones across eight provinces. The eastern regions of Ituri and North Kivu have become epicentres, recording 9,782 total cases and 4,792 deaths.
World Health Organization programme area manager Dr Patrick Otim said the number of deaths shows the severity of the outbreak and has devastated families and communities. Dr Otim also noted that one-third of those who died did not receive care before passing away.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 80 per cent of new cases originate from unknown transmission chains rather than monitored contacts. This has made tracing and testing difficult for authorities.
Efforts to contain the virus face challenges including conflict in the eastern region and strikes by health workers over unpaid wages. In Ituri, workers at a treatment centre in Tchomia downed tools on Friday, demanding four months of salary.
The outbreak has also been recorded in other African regions. Kenya has confirmed eight cases and two deaths, while Nigeria reported one case that was evacuated to Switzerland.