Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Case count exceeds 7,000

The Ebola outbreak declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 15 is growing steadily. The number of confirmed cases in the country has risen to 7,022, while the death toll from the virus has been reported at 3,398.

The outbreak has spread to seven provinces.

According to the latest data shared by the DRC National Institute of Public Health (INSP), 7,022 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the country to date. The outbreak has claimed 3,398 lives, while 1,671 patients have reportedly recovered after treatment.

It was reported that the Ebola outbreak has spread to a total of 62 districts across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Bas-Uele, and South Ubangi.

According to the reported figures, the case‑fatality rate of the outbreak stands at 48.4 percent.

The outbreak was declared in May.

After 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths were identified in the Ituri province east of KDC, an Ebola outbreak was declared in the country on May 15.

Health officials say the outbreak that emerged in May was caused by the 'Bundibugyo' Ebola variant, and they state that there is still no approved treatment or vaccine for this variant.

Ebola First Seen in 1976

The Ebola virus causes a contagious disease that can be severe in humans and lead to hemorrhagic fever. The virus was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan, and Yambuku in KDC.

Because the first outbreak in KDC began near the Ebola River, the virus was named 'Ebola'.

More than 11,000 people killed in the West African outbreak

Ebola, in December 2013, began spreading again on a large scale in West Africa. During the outbreak that occurred between 2014 and 2017 in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the virus infected about 30,000 people.

More than 11,000 people died from Ebola in this outbreak.

What is Ebola?

Ebola,It is a viral disease caused by the Ebola virus that can be severe and fatal.The illness, which can begin with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and sore throat, may progress to vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and in some cases bleeding.

The virus can be transmitted by direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person. Close contact with patients or the graves of those who have died is a significant risk for transmission.

In Ebola outbreaks, early diagnosis, patient isolation, contact tracing, and the provision of appropriate health services play a major role in preventing the spread of the disease.