More than 900 suspected Ebola cases have been identified in the conflict-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Sunday, as health authorities race to contain the outbreak.
“As surveillance efforts have been scaled up in the #DRC #Ebola response, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote in a post on social media. He did not provide an updated death toll.
Ebola is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms can include severe bleeding, organ failure and fever.
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared the outbreak on May 15, confirming it was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus — a variant for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.
In its latest update on Saturday, the Congolese health ministry said 204 people had died across three provinces from 867 suspected cases.
The outbreak comes as health workers face major challenges operating in conflict-affected regions, where insecurity and limited access have complicated response efforts.
Ebola outbreaks have killed more than 15,000 people across Africa over the past five decades.
AFP
