Ebola death toll approaches 3,000, as case-fatality rate hovers around 50%
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached nearly 3,000 deaths with a 48% fatality rate. Health organizations are struggling to contain the virus as fear and misinformation hinder access to care.
Why it matters
The high mortality rate and geographic spread of Ebola represent a significant global health security threat requiring international intervention.
Share Copied to clipboard NIAID/Flickr cc The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now at 6,041 cases and 2,911 deaths, as the Bundibugyo strain has taken hold in North Kivu province.
According to the most recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak now has a crude case fatality ratio (CFR) of 48.1%, or nearly half.
“The crude case fatality ratio of 48% underscores the severity of the disease and ongoing challenges related to timely case detection, access to and quality of clinical care, and effective interruption of viral transmission,” the WHO said. “Delays in recognizing cases increase the likelihood of onward transmission within households, communities and healthcare facilities.”
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