DRC Ebola Cases Rise to 488, Including 86 Deaths

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have raised the confirmed Ebola case count to 488, with 86 fatalities, since the outbreak was declared on May 15. The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) issued a stark warning that case numbers could rise if adequate measures are not rapidly implemented.

Ituri province continues to be the epicenter of the outbreak, reporting over 94% of the total infections with 460 cases. The INSP noted that symptom onset occurred in two distinct periods: May 14-23 and May 25-June 3. This pattern suggests an initial common source followed by a wider propagation of the disease, potentially indicating a significant reservoir.

Currently, 267 patients are hospitalized or in isolation. The number of recovered individuals has reached nine, and the affected health zones span three Congolese provinces. Contact tracing has successfully reached 67.2% of identified contacts, with a case fatality rate of 17.6%.

The epidemic has also spread to Uganda, where 19 cases have been confirmed. Of these, 14 are considered imported from the DRC, and two have resulted in death. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the risk of a widespread outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa as high, while the global risk is considered low. The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, which has a fatality rate of 30-50% and for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists.