Ebola outbreak worsens in Congo: Number of cases reaches 1,792
Goma, July 10 (Hibya) - The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) remains in a "very active" phase, according to health authorities. Officials said the outbreak has not yet reached its peak and that new cases continue to be identified.
According to CCTV, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) remains in a "very active" phase, health authorities said. Officials noted that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak and that new cases continue to be detected.
According to the latest epidemiological data released on Thursday, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country has risen to 1,792, while the death toll has reached 625. A total of 295 people have recovered following treatment so far. It was also reported that 764 patients are currently in isolation or receiving treatment in hospitals.
Speaking in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said that the increase in reported cases was largely due to expanded community screening efforts, which uncovered previously undetected infections.
Kamba stated that it is still not possible to predict when the outbreak will be brought under control, adding that population movements and challenges related to community engagement are making efforts to contain the outbreak more difficult.
Wessam Mankoula, Ebola Incident Manager at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said that approximately 353 new confirmed cases had been recorded over the past week, representing a 25 percent increase in the total caseload.
Mankoula said, "We are facing the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent. The outbreak continues to expand, and unfortunately, the virus is still advancing ahead of our response efforts."
It was noted that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.
On July 2, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to evaluate potential treatments against the Bundibugyo strain.
As part of the study, the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir will be evaluated, both individually and in combination, to determine whether they improve patients' survival rates. The research aims to contribute to the development of effective treatment options against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
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