The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to 61 health zones across six provinces, the World Health Organization said, with 6,757 confirmed cases and 3,267 deaths recorded as of September 7 — a case fatality ratio of 48.3%.
The affected provinces are Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo, with the Kayna health zone in North Kivu the latest to report cases.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, a rarer strain for which no licensed vaccine currently exists, unlike the more common Zaire species covered by the Ervebo vaccine.
WHO officials said transmission patterns “remain variable, with evidence of continued geographical expansion,” and identified delayed case detection as a major risk factor driving spread within households and healthcare facilities.
Responders have deployed contact tracing teams, treatment centers, safe burial teams and laboratory testing across affected zones. Health officials have warned the outbreak is spreading faster than previous epidemics at comparable stages and could potentially exceed the 2014-2016 West African outbreak, the largest in history.
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Source: Premium Times
