More than 900 people are suspected to have been infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He said intensified surveillance efforts in the fight against Ebola in the country have recorded over 900 suspected cases to date, of which 101 have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
No updated death toll was provided in his latest remarks.
Rising toll in ongoing outbreak
In the most recent official update issued by the country’s Ministry of Health, authorities reported 204 deaths out of 867 suspected cases amid the ongoing outbreak.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an Ebola outbreak on 15 May, linked to the rarer Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccines or treatments are currently available.
Health officials say this strain can have a fatality rate of up to 50%.
International health emergency declared
In response to the outbreak, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Ebola virus disease has caused at least 15,000 deaths across Africa over the past five decades, with overall fatality rates ranging between 25% and 90%, according to WHO data.
Continued monitoring in affected regions
Health authorities and international partners continue to monitor the situation closely as surveillance and response measures are strengthened in affected regions of the country.
Source: CNA
Also read: UN releases $60 million to contain Ebola outbreak in DR Congo
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