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 the death toll reaching 2,786. Health authorities and aid groups are struggling to contain the virus due to regional insecurity and the rapid spread of the disease.
Why it matters
The outbreak's unprecedented speed and high fatality rate pose a severe threat to regional stability and global health security.
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — 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.
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%, due in part to delayed response efforts, according to Congo’s Ministry of Health data.
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.
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