Number of Ebola cases in the DR Congo exceeds 5,500

The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 5,515.

Over the past 24 hours, 51 new cases of infection were recorded in the country.

This was reported by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the agency, 2,642 people have died from the disease since the beginning of the current outbreak. Thus, the fatality rate stands at 47.9%.

Currently, more than 700 people are in hospitals and medical isolation units under observation due to suspected infection with the Ebola virus. At the same time, specialists continue to identify and track people who have been in contact with the sick. The level of contact tracing in the country is 85.5%.

The current outbreak began on May 15 simultaneously in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In the DRC, the infection has already spread to six provinces, with the most difficult epidemiological situation remaining in Ituri province, which is considered the epicenter of the spread of the disease.

On July 28, the Ugandan authorities announced the end of the Ebola outbreak in the country's territory, but in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the spread of the infection continues.

The causative agent of the current outbreak is a rare type of Ebola virus — Bundibugyo. A vaccine against this strain is currently at the clinical trial stage, which significantly complicates the fight against the spread of the disease.

The World Health Organization previously assigned the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the status of a public health emergency of international concern.

The current outbreak has already become the second deadliest among the recorded cases of the spread of Ebola fever in Africa in the entire history of observations.

Source: TASS