500 die of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo

Wednesday, 13/02/2019 15:40
More than 500 people have died from the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

(Source: AFP/VNA)

"In total, there have been 502 deaths and 271 people cured," said Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga.

According to him, for the first time, a vaccination program had protected 76,425 people and prevented "thousands" of deaths.

Congo has suffered 10 Ebola outbreaks since the first reported case of Ebola occurred in the DRC in 1976, an outbreak that killed at least 280 people.

The worst Ebola epidemic ended in West Africa in 2014, after killing more than 11,300 people and infecting about 28,600 across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread through direct contact, and it can also be transmitted through sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

There is no specific treatment for Ebola, which is spread through the bodily fluids of people exhibiting symptoms./.

Compiled by BTA

RELATED NEWS

Comment
FullName
Email
Contents

/

Confirm