Health
Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo expands to 60 health zones as cases top 5,700
The outbreak has expanded into two new zones in North Kivu province amid response delays, insecurity, and a strike by health workers.
The short version
- The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to two additional health zones, Biena and Manguredjipa, bringing the total affected zones to 60.
- Official figures report 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths, with an overall case fatality rate of 48% and higher mortality in newly affected areas due to delayed intervention.
- Vaccination of front-line workers with the Ervebo vaccine began on Thursday, while clinical trials continue to find a targeted treatment or vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo strain.
- The World Health Organization warns the outbreak remains out of control, driven by displacement, local conflict, and most transmissions occurring outside tracked contacts.
Key facts
- The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has expanded to the Biena and Manguredjipa health zones in North Kivu province, bringing the total number of affected health zones to 60.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Government data shows 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths associated with the current outbreak.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The overall case fatality rate stands at 48%, though mortality is higher in newly affected areas due to response delays.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The World Health Organization states that the outbreak remains out of control and risks surpassing the scale of the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.[ABC News]
- Front-line health workers began receiving the Ervebo vaccine on Thursday, though clinical trials are still underway to find an approved vaccine or treatment specifically for the Bundibugyo virus strain driving the outbreak.[ABC News]
- Response measures have been hampered by local insecurity, displacement, a strike by health workers, and population movements across six impacted provinces.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- Although the outbreak was officially declared in mid-May, officials suspect virus transmission began unmonitored as early as February.[ABC News]
- It remains uncertain how effective the Ervebo vaccine will be against the current outbreak, as it was developed for the Zaire strain rather than the Bundibugyo strain.[ABC News]