Ebola cases surge past 10,000 in Congo as outbreak spreads across Africa
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The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 10,060. A total of 4,887 people have died since the outbreak began, according to DPA.
The infection has also spread to other African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. The disease began spreading in mid-May.
Ebola spreads beyond Congo
Nine Ebola cases have been reported in Kenya, with two infected people dying. The first patient arrived in the country's capital, Nairobi, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo via Uganda. All subsequent infections in Kenya have been linked to this individual.
Nigeria has confirmed one Ebola case. Health officials are also continuing to monitor the situation across the region, as the virus has already crossed the borders of several countries.
Uganda recorded 20 cases during the current outbreak, with two deaths. In late August, authorities declared the outbreak over after no new cases had been detected in the country for 42 days.
Why the Bundibugyo strain is dangerous
The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person. The main symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and bleeding.
No approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain. In its early stages, the disease can resemble malaria, making prompt diagnosis more difficult.
Clinical trials of two antiviral drugs have been underway since July. Researchers are also investigating whether Ervebo, a vaccine developed against another type of Ebola virus, could protect against the Bundibugyo strain.
Earlier, more than 250 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo participated in a trial of the experimental drug Obeldesivir, which could help prevent Ebola from developing after exposure to an infected person.
In the summer, Europe recorded its first Ebola infection, which occurred in France.
The World Health Organization previously warned that the new Ebola outbreak in Africa could become larger than the 2014 epidemic.
