The confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 2,536, as stated by Congo’s public health institute late Wednesday. The death toll has surpassed 1,000, reaching 1,033, it reported.
Also Read: At least 930 people have died in Congo’s Ebola outbreak
This outbreak, Congo’s 17th, was declared in mid-May; however, experts suspect that the virus was circulating weeks prior.
It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has a fatality rate of up to 40%, and there is currently no approved vaccine.
Health officials are grappling with insecurity in eastern Congo, the outbreak’s epicenter, where numerous armed groups are active.
Also Read: WHO says it has less than half funding needed to fight Ebola
Basic supplies are in short supply, and health facilities have been targeted by local residents. Some grieving families have expressed frustration over health regulations that restrict their ability to bury their loved ones.
Conspiracy theories have emerged, with some claiming the outbreak is fabricated.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, whether alive or deceased. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, both internal and external bleeding.
Unlike the more prevalent Zaire strain, no approved vaccines or treatments exist for Bundibugyo.
There are a few experimental vaccines and treatments currently under review, as experts investigate whether existing Ebola medications could be effective against the Bundibugyo strain, a possibility that has so far only been supported by limited animal studies.
Congo, which provides daily updates, has reported 63 new cases and 34 deaths since the last update.
Also Read: Congo-Uganda Ebola outbreak grows 3 times faster than Uganda’s 2000 outbreak
The outbreak has also impacted neighboring Uganda, though authorities there have managed to limit confirmed cases to 20.
No cases have been reported in Uganda since June 22, and the last Ebola patient was released on July 16, starting a 42-day countdown to declare the country virus-free.
