Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak spreads to seventh province
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak, which has now spread to a seventh province. Health officials are tracking contacts after a patient traveled through multiple regions while symptomatic, raising concerns about further transmission.
Why it matters
The spread of a highly fatal virus in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure poses a significant public health risk to Central Africa.
Workers with Unicef raise awareness about Ebola transmission at Alanine market in Goma, Congo. Photo / Getty Images
The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a seventh province, the governor of South-Ubangi province said on Friday.
Congo officially detected the outbreak in mid-May – its 17th outbreak and the most deadly so far. Ebola has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa in the past 50 years.
The current outbreak has killed 3310 people out of 6843 confirmed cases, according to the latest figures from the Congolese authorities.
It began in northeastern Ituri province and spread to conflict-plagued, remote eastern and northern regions where armed groups have roamed for decades, the presence of the state is weak and health infrastructure is largely lacking.
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