Ebola Outbreak in Congo Kills 438 as Cases Continue to Rise
Kigali, Rwanda (ANTARA) - The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen above 400 after nearly 40 new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the latest situation report from the Ministry of Health on Thursday.
The Ministry stated that the number of confirmed cases has increased to 1,406, including 438 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 31.2 per cent since the outbreak was announced on 15 May.
The outbreak is concentrated in 34 health zones spread across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
The Ministry also noted that the 24th health zone, known as Lolwa in Ituri province, which was previously the epicentre of the outbreak, is now also affected by the spread of Ebola. To date, at least 192 people have been declared recovered, while 609 patients remain in isolation or hospitalised.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the reported death rate in Congo is likely still lower than the actual situation, as many deaths occurring before the outbreak was officially announced are still under investigation.
Health authorities cited an unstable security situation, population displacement, community resistance, and pressure on healthcare facilities as factors weakening the response to the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.
On Tuesday, two people, including a police officer, died and a care centre was set on fire when violence erupted regarding the body of a man believed to have died of Ebola in Ituri.
According to local media, another incident occurred in the Nia-Nia health zone in the Mambasa region, after some individuals refused to hand over the body of someone suspected to have died of Ebola to the team responsible for safe and dignified burials.
Earlier this week, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi announced an Ebola response plan valued at 319 million US dollars (approximately Rp5.65 trillion).
Meanwhile, donor countries and partners have pledged assistance amounting to 910 million US dollars (approximately Rp16.11 trillion) to support the Ebola response in Congo and Uganda, where 20 cases have been confirmed, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.