New Ebola Outbreak Declared in Democratic Republic of Congo, 15 Confirmed Deaths
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced a new outbreak of Ebola in the southern province of Kasaï, with fifteen deaths confirmed as of yesterday. The outbreak, declared on August 20th, has raised concerns among health organizations due to the virus’s high mortality rate and the infection of healthcare workers. At least 28 people are suspected of being infected.
This marks the sixteenth Ebola outbreak in the DRC, with the most recent occurring in 2022.The country experienced a devastating outbreak between 2018 and 2020, resulting in nearly 2,300 deaths. The current outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to a hospital experiencing a high fever and repeated vomiting; it remains unclear if she is among the fifteen fatalities.
The Ministry of Health reports that four healthcare providers are among the deceased, highlighting the risk faced by frontline workers. The Ebola virus is highly contagious, spreading through bodily fluids, and carries a mortality rate exceeding 53 percent.
The World Health Institution (WHO) is responding by deploying approximately 2,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine to the affected region, along with two tons of relief supplies including mobile laboratory equipment and essential medical provisions.
Suspected cases are presenting symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. Authorities emphasize that current figures are provisional and expect the number of cases to rise as the investigation continues.