Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has expanded to 60 health zones, with nearly 5,800 confirmed cases and over 2,700 deaths. The situation is complicated by regional insecurity, health worker strikes, and the lack of a licensed vaccine for the specific Bundibugyo virus strain.
Why it matters
The rapid spread of a deadly virus in a conflict-ridden region poses a significant public health threat with the potential to exceed previous historical outbreaks.
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BUNIA: The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo, with a total of 60 now affected, according to the latest government figures published on Friday.<br />
The two new zones affected are Biena and Manguredjipa in Congo’s North Kivu province, where the case fatality rate is much higher than the overall rate of 48 percent, due in part to delayed response efforts, according to Congo’s Ministry of Health data.<br />
It said the outbreak has recorded 5,794 confirmed cases, including 2,786 deaths, as it is spreading at an unprecedented speed, faster than efforts to track and slow it.<br />
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