Ebola outbreak intensifies with growing death toll and infections
The number of deaths from Ebola has surpassed the 1,000 mark (Photo: Getty Images)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, over the past two weeks, the mortality rate and infection rate from Ebola have increased by nearly 67%, indicating a sharp deterioration in the situation with the outbreak of the dangerous disease, according to Reuters.
According to the DRC's National Institute of Public Health, as of July 23, the number of confirmed deaths has exceeded 1,000. A total of 2,536 confirmed cases of infection have been recorded in the country.
As recently as July 22, officials had reported 999 fatalities, and just a few weeks earlier, the number was approximately two-thirds lower.
Reuters recalls that the current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. According to experts' estimates, the mortality rate of this strain can reach about 40%.
Where Ebola is spreading
The highest number of infections is recorded in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. It is noted that the work of medics is complicated by attacks by armed groups in the east, a shortage of medications, attacks on medical facilities, and the spread of misinformation among the population.
As a result, it is not possible to track all contacts of infected individuals, which contributes to further spread of the virus.
At the same time, neighboring Uganda, which also saw isolated cases of infection, has managed to contain the outbreak. No new cases have been recorded there since the end of June, and the country has begun a 42-day observation period required for the official declaration of the end of the epidemic.
In June, the first case of the Ebola virus in Europe was reported. It was found in a man in France.
The WHO predicted that the new Ebola outbreak in Africa risks becoming larger than the 2014 epidemic.
