Ebola is spreading faster in eastern Congo than it can be tracked, as deaths pass 700
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading rapidly, with 80% of new cases originating from unknown transmission chains. Despite increased medical capacity, health officials report that the response is struggling to keep pace with the rising death toll, which has now surpassed 700.
Why it matters
The inability to track transmission chains poses a significant risk of the outbreak escalating into a larger regional or international health crisis.
Eighty percent of new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track despite an expanding response.
State of the World from NPR The town where the latest Ebola outbreak likely began Congo has been battling an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola since May, with no approved treatment or vaccine. The Africa Centres for Disease Control says it is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on the continent.
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