The largest outbreak of Ebola fever in recent years continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The number of confirmed cases has reached 782, and the virus was detected for the first time in two more new medical zones of the country.
An alarming situation with the spread of Ebola fever is developing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, writes xrust. According to the country's government, the number of confirmed cases of infection has reached 782 after 72 more new patients were identified in just 24 hours. This is one of the largest daily increases since the start of the current outbreak.
According to the latest report from the Congolese Ministry of Health, the infection has already claimed the lives of 181 people. Despite the scale of the outbreak, authorities note that the disease remains concentrated in the country's three eastern provinces — Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. However, the geography of distribution is gradually expanding. Cases were first confirmed in the health zones of Nia-Nia in Ituri province and Mabalako in North Kivu.
Currently, infections have already been registered in 20 of the 36 health zones of Ituri, in 10 of the 34 zones of North Kivu and in another zone of South Kivu. Experts fear that the further spread of the virus could seriously complicate the work of the region’s medical services.
Of further concern, the current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a rarer variant of the Ebola virus. Unlike the best-known Zaire strain, there are no approved vaccines or specialized treatments for it, making the fight against infection much more difficult.
Experts also draw attention to the difficult humanitarian situation in eastern Congo. Millions of people live in displacement camps, where high population densities and limited access to sanitation remain. In some areas, doctors are faced with distrust from local residents who refuse to cooperate with sanitary services and participate in contact tracing programs. All this increases the risk of further spread of the virus.
The World Health Organization previously warned that the outbreak could be one of the worst in the region in recent years. Experts continue to increase testing volumes, organize isolation of sick people and trace contacts of infected people. However, ongoing armed conflicts and population movements significantly complicate anti-epidemic measures.
Ebola fever is one of the most dangerous viral diseases. It is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Outbreaks of the disease occur regularly in central and western Africa, but the scale of the current spread in Congo is of serious international concern.
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Xrust Is Ebola getting out of control? 782 cases of dangerous infection have already been confirmed in Congo
