Over 1,000 dead in Congo Ebola outbreak
Saturday, 18/05/2019 15:26 (GMT+7)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is “worsening” and has killed more than 1,000 people.
(Source: NPR)
The outbreak is the second-deadliest and second-largest in history, topped only by one in West Africa in 2014, when the disease killed more than 11,000 people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
More than 110 cases were identified in the past week alone, and the WHO warns “these numbers are likely to continue to increase” as health workers address a backlog created by a major disruption of health care services by armed militia groups.
Violence has complicated efforts to contain the second most deadly Ebola virus outbreak in history, as the number of new cases increases each time treatment and prevention work is disrupted.
The central African country declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August, centred in the city of Beni in North Kivu province, before the virus spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.
The World Health Organization had initially voiced hope it would be able to contain the outbreak, thanks in part to a new vaccine./.
Compiled by BTA
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