Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 1,000 people have died in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health workers are struggling with militant violence, attacks on clinics and shortages of essential supplies. Official figures recorded 2,536 confirmed cases and 1,033 deaths.
Outbreak figures
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s public health institute said late on Wednesday that confirmed cases had risen to 2,536, while the death toll had passed 1,000.
The country’s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared in mid-May, although experts believe infections had begun circulating several weeks earlier.
Bundibugyo strain
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has a fatality rate of up to 40%. No vaccine or treatment has been approved for the strain.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, whether living or dead. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, and severe cases may involve internal and external bleeding.
Security and health challenges
Health officials have faced insecurity in eastern Congo, the centre of the outbreak, where dozens of armed groups operate. Medical teams have also reported shortages of basic supplies and attacks on health facilities by local residents.
Some relatives of victims have objected to health restrictions that prevent them from burying loved ones. Conspiracy theories claiming that the outbreak is a hoax have also been reported.
Experimental measures
Unlike the more common Zaire strain, Bundibugyo has no approved vaccines or treatments. A small number of experimental vaccines and treatments are under review, while experts assess whether existing Ebola medicines could be effective against the strain.
That possibility is currently supported only by limited animal data.