Ebola death toll in DR Congo reaches 196

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 196, while the number of confirmed cases has risen to 837, the local health ministry said on Wednesday. According to the ministry, there were 29 new confirmed cases and four Ebola-related deaths. All new cases were recorded in Ituri Province. Based on the latest data, the mortality rate for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus is estimated at 23.4 percent. The Bundibugyo virus outbreak in northeastern DR Congo is currently under surveillance. The ministry added that 49 patients have been declared recovered from Ebola. On 15 May, the World Health Organisation designated the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern, posing a risk of spreading to other countries. The UN agency assessed the risk of regional spread as high.