Ebola spreads in Congo: Death toll rises to 181

 

 

PP Cherian

Kinshasa: The death toll from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 181, the Ministry of Health has said. Currently, 782 people have been confirmed to have the disease. However, it is estimated that the number of infections could be even higher. Although the disease was confirmed on May 15, it had been spreading for weeks. Currently, contact tracing is only 56 percent.

Unlike previous Ebola outbreaks, this time the disease is caused by a rare virus called 'Bundibugyo'. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for it.

90 percent of the cases are in the eastern province of Ituri. The disease has also spread to neighboring Uganda.

The displacement of hundreds of thousands of people due to internal conflicts in the region, the constant movement of miners, and attacks on health workers are complicating prevention efforts and contact tracing. The current mortality rate is 23 percent. 56 people have recovered.