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DR Congo Ebola cases surpass 3,000, with 1,354 deaths
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Health & Science

DR Congo Ebola cases surpass 3,000, with 1,354 deaths

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 3,000 confirmed cases of Ebola, with 1,354 deaths, since the outbreak began on May 15.
  • The Ministry of Communication and Media stated the current fatality rate is 44%, with 755 patients hospitalized and 556 recovered.
  • The epidemic, affecting five provinces, is considered to be in a phase of continued transmission, with Uganda having cleared its last patient.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government has announced that the Ebola outbreak, declared in the country's east on May 15, has now surpassed 3,075 confirmed cases, including 1,354 fatalities. This figure comes just ten days after the number of cases exceeded 2,000.

The Ministry of Communication and Media reported that as of July 24, the fatality rate stands at 44%. Currently, 755 patients are receiving care in isolation or hospitals, while 556 individuals have recovered. The contact tracing rate has reached 76.4%.

The epidemiological data are now more precise (...). Contact tracing activities continue to advance, while strengthening surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, particularly thanks to an additional laboratory, improves the detection and confirmation of cases in the affected areas.

— Congolese Ministry of Communication and MediaThe Ministry's statement on the epidemiological data and ongoing efforts to combat the outbreak.

Five Congolese provinces are affected: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Haut-Uele in the east, and Tshopo in the center-north. The Ministry noted that epidemiological data is more precise, with improved surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, including an additional laboratory, enhancing case detection.

However, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) warned that the epidemic remains in a phase of continuous transmission with high virus circulation. The outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo strain with a 30-50% fatality rate, is the third-worst in history and the seventeenth to affect the DRC. Neighboring Uganda reported 20 cases, including two deaths, but declared its last patient discharged on July 16.

epidemic remains in "a phase of continued transmission, with a high level of virus circulation."

— National Institute of Public Health (INSP) of the DRCThe INSP's assessment of the ongoing transmission levels of the Ebola epidemic.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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