Ebola kills 1,700 in eastern Congo as the fastest-growing outbreak surges

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo continues its rapid surge, having killed more than 1,700 people, according to the latest government figures. The region has documented a total of 3,802 cases, resulting in 1,707 confirmed deaths as of Tuesday.

Health officials are struggling to predict when the epidemic might reach its peak. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, expressed this concern during his second visit to Bunia, a town situated near the outbreak's epicenter. His assessment highlights the persistent and aggressive nature of the disease's spread.

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It is not clear when the outbreak will reach its peak.

Kaseya further cautioned that the outbreak's trajectory is increasingly driven by community transmission. He stated that nearly 80 percent of new Ebola cases are emerging from community spread, rather than from individuals identified through contact tracing efforts. This shift indicates a significant challenge in containing the virus through traditional methods and underscores the urgency for broader public health interventions.

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nearly 80 per cent of new cases are not coming from contact tracing but instead from community spread.