Ebola kills 1,700 in eastern Congo as fastest-growing outbreak surges
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has resulted in over 1,700 deaths, with health officials warning that community spread is outpacing contact tracing efforts. The response is being hindered by community mistrust, violence, and strikes by healthcare workers over unpaid wages.
Why it matters
The rapid spread of the virus and the challenges in containment pose a significant public health threat to the region and highlight the difficulties of managing outbreaks in conflict zones.
Ebola has killed more than 1,700 people in eastern Congo in the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease, data showed.
As of Tuesday, 3,802 cases had been recorded, with 1,707 deaths, according to the latest government update.
It is not clear when the outbreak will reach its peak, Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said during his second visit to the town of Bunia near the outbreak's epicentre on Tuesday. Kaseya cautioned that nearly 80% of new cases are not coming from contact tracing but instead from community spread.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Delays in contact tracing, difficulties accessing affected areas, mistrust from communities, and violence by armed groups and some residents have hampered the response, the Africa CDC has said.
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