DRC Ebola Outbreak Claims Over 200 Lives; Authorities Concerned About Tracing

More than 200 deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to an Ebola epidemic, one month after an emergency was declared in the country's northeast. Africa CDC, the health service of the African Union, reported 875 confirmed cases, with 202 fatalities as of May 15, translating to a 23% mortality rate.

The current outbreak of hemorrhagic fever is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or targeted treatment is yet available. The epicenter is in the Ituri province of northeastern DRC, where access remains difficult due to poor road conditions and the presence of armed groups. Neighboring Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths.

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is concerned because the tracing of patients' contacts in the DRC remains insufficient, due to security problems and limited access in certain zones.

Uesaam Mankoula, the Africa CDC's head of emergency response, stated that the agency is concerned because contact tracing for patients in the DRC remains inadequate. This is attributed to security problems and limited access in certain zones. In contrast, Mankoula described the situation in Uganda as "under control."

The Ebola virus, transmitted through bodily fluids and close contact, has caused over 15,000 deaths in Africa in previous outbreaks. The ongoing epidemic in the DRC highlights the challenges of containing the disease in regions with difficult infrastructure and security concerns.

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is under control.