The Congo Ebola outbreak has passed 11,000 cases, with 5,387 deaths, the health ministry said on Wednesday, making it the country’s deadliest on record.
The figures, reported by the Associated Press, put the Bundibugyo virus outbreak second only to the 2014-16 epidemic in West Africa. No vaccine or approved treatment exists for the strain, and fighting in the worst-hit provinces is slowing the response.
Where is the Congo Ebola outbreak spreading?
The health ministry said 11,042 people have been infected since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, and the virus has reached eight of Congo’s 26 provinces. Ituri accounts for nearly 70% of cases, according to Health Minister Roger Kamba, while North Kivu has become the main site of new transmission.
The disease has also spread beyond Congo to Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, AP reported. Nigeria confirmed a case in Abuja in October, and Kenya on Wednesday discharged its last patient. DNE Africa reported in August that cases had reached 5,656, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, so the total has roughly doubled in under three months.
Why is the outbreak so hard to contain?
Health authorities cite armed conflict, a weak health system, poor roads, and violence from residents fuelled by mistrust and misinformation. The ministry said a resurgence of fighting in Ituri and North Kivu has prompted calls for a halt to hostilities so that health workers can reach the sick. Health facilities and staff have been attacked in several communities, AP reported.
Schools are also affected, with more teachers falling ill in Ituri. Isaac Singoma, a head teacher in the provincial capital Bunia, told AP his school had lost staff and that pupils were traumatised.
How does it compare with West Africa’s epidemic?
The West Africa outbreak of 2014-16 recorded about 28,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths, the largest on record. According to AP, the current outbreak has had at least three times as many cases and deaths as that epidemic had at the same stage after its declaration. Nearly half of those infected in Congo have died, on the ministry’s figures.
The totals are government data. Counts can differ between agencies depending on how cases are classified, and an independent update from the World Health Organization matching the new figure was not available at the time of writing. A report on 6 November, citing Africa CDC data, put cases above 10,000 and deaths at 5,376.
What happens next?
Health officials are calling for unhindered access to Ituri and North Kivu, and for more support for surveillance and community outreach. Further updates from the ministry, Africa CDC and the WHO are expected in the coming days.
FAQ
How many people have died in Congo’s Ebola outbreak?
The health ministry reported 5,387 deaths among 11,042 cases on 11 November, according to AP.
What is the Bundibugyo virus?
It is the Ebola species behind this outbreak. AP reports there is no known vaccine or treatment for it.
Which parts of Congo are most affected?
Ituri holds nearly 70% of cases, while North Kivu is the main site of new transmission, the health minister said.
Has the outbreak spread to other countries?
Yes. AP reports cases in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
