An Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the death toll already exceeding 3,000. The WHO warns that the current epidemic could become the largest in history.
According to the latest data from local authorities, 6,186 cases of infection have been confirmed since the outbreak began, with 3,007 resulting in death. The case fatality rate stands at around 50%.
Another 1,409 patients have recovered, while about 830 people are currently receiving treatment or remain in isolation. The virus continues to spread across six provinces of the country, including Ituri, North and South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele, as well as Tshopo. The main hotspot is Ituri, where more than 45 new cases were reported over the past 24 hours.
The current outbreak was officially declared in May and has already become the largest and deadliest in the history of the DRC. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. There is still no specifically approved vaccine or treatment for this strain, but authorities have begun using the Ervebo vaccine among healthcare workers and other high-risk groups.
Containing the outbreak is complicated by the fact that a significant proportion of patients are not linked to previously identified chains of transmission. Other challenges include weak disease surveillance systems, unsafe burials, instability in some regions of the country, and a lack of resources for providing medical care to the population.
As reported by CentralAsia, the WHO is calling for stronger measures to contain the spread of the virus. The current outbreak is already the second-largest known Ebola epidemic in history.
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