DistantNews
Support us
🇬🇭 Ghana /Health & Science

Ebola deaths top 600 as outbreak spreads to new Congo provinces

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Ebola has spread to new, previously unaffected provinces in Congo, with suspected cases reported in Tshopo and Haut-Uele.
  • The death toll from the latest outbreak has reached 600, with 1,759 confirmed cases nationwide.
  • Efforts to contain the virus are hampered by funding gaps, attacks on health centers, and ongoing conflict.

The Ebola outbreak in Congo continues to spread, with suspected cases now emerging in the Tshopo and Haut-Uele provinces, areas previously untouched by the disease. The Congolese health ministry confirmed the alarming development as the overall death toll from the current outbreak climbed to 600. The total number of confirmed cases across the country has now reached 1,759. Two new suspected cases were reported in Kisangani, Tshopo province, with one linked to the original outbreak zone in Ituri province and another showing no clear connection to known outbreaks, prompting further investigation. Authorities declared this latest outbreak on May 15, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. Clinical trials for a potential treatment have begun, but containment efforts face significant challenges. These include a persistent funding gap, attacks on healthcare facilities, and the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, the region most affected by the epidemic.

has no apparent geographical connection to known outbreaks

— Congolese health ministryDescribing a suspected new Ebola case in Congo that is not linked to previous areas of infection.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog