HealthReuters

Congo's Ebola infections surpass 9,000, government report shows

Congo's Ebola outbreak has now surpassed 9,000 cases and 4,381 deaths, making it the largest and deadliest in the country's history, with no approved vaccine or treatment available.

The number of confirmed Ebola cases ‌in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen above 9,000, government data showed on Tuesday, as responders ​struggle to slow transmission in multiple ​hotspots.

The Long Sip
What happened

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 9,000 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, becoming the worst in the country's history.

The detail

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, declared in May, and has spread beyond Congo, with Kenya confirming its first imported case last week after a traveller died in Nairobi.

What it means

The strain currently has no approved vaccines or treatments, and health responders are struggling to slow transmission across multiple hotspots.

For you

The Bundibugyo strain driving this outbreak currently has no approved vaccines or treatments, so travellers to the region should check government health advisories before going.

Full story at Reuters

What readers are saying

bob_cairns
The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines or treatments, which is the actual problem here - not just the case count. That's why responders are struggling even with all the resources thrown at it. Makes the comparison to the West African outbreak a bit hollow when you think about what's actually available now versus then.
gemma1990
The framing here as the 'largest and deadliest in Congo's history' is accurate for the country alone, but it's worth keeping in mind that the 2014-2016 West African outbreak still killed more people overall. Scale matters differently depending on whether you're looking at one nation or the broader regional picture.
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