Health: Ebola outbreak in Congo passes 5,000 deaths, already the second deadliest on record

The Ebola outbreak declared on May 15 in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed 5,000 deaths, raising health alarms over its spread to other provinces, according to the latest epidemiological report from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), compiled with data through October 29.

The report records 10,351 confirmed infections and 5,026 deaths, a fatality rate of 48.6%: nearly half of confirmed cases ended in death. Despite the high mortality, 2,788 patients recovered after receiving specialized medical care.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo variant, is already the second deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, according to the report. One of the main problems is following up people who were in contact with infected patients: the contact-tracing rate stands at 84.5%, and the figure that most worries specialists is that, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, around 80% of new cases come from people who were not included in the contact chains under monitoring.

The disease has also recorded cases in other African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, increasing concern about regional spread. Congolese authorities are maintaining efforts to contain the outbreak, while health teams try to close the gaps in contact tracing that keep transmission chains active.

Photo: Archivo A Lo Claro

Source: Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo / Prensa Mercosur