U DDemocratic Republic of the Congo 9.066 cases confirmed Ebola, and 4.381 people died as a result of the disease, according to data from the Ministry of Health of that country published on October 13. The epidemic is spreading despite efforts by health authorities to contain it, while a lack of medical equipment and treatment capacity further complicates the response to the crisis.
The latest report records 88 new cases, and the virus has been registered in 65 health zones so far. Officials warn that the actual number of infected people is probably much higher, because confirmed cases represent only a part of the total number of patients.
The epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus. There is no approved vaccine or specific drug for this strain, which makes it even more difficult to control the disease.
A large number of deaths occur outside treatment centers, indicating problems in timely detection of infections and access to health care.
Conflicts and lack of equipment make the fight against the epidemic difficult
Suppression of the epidemic is made difficult by the conflicts between government forces and rebel groups, the mass movement of the population, the lack of medical supplies and the limited capacities of health institutions. Health workers also face difficulties in implementing preventive measures and monitoring the contacts of the infected.
"It seems to me that the epidemic has overcome the country. But there is nothing else to say. The government must take full responsibility to ensure an effective response to Ebola," said Samuel Buju, a resident of Bunia, a town in Ituri province, one of the worst-hit areas.
According to data reported by the AP, the current outbreak has surpassed previous Ebola outbreaks recorded in the Congo in terms of scale and could surpass the outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, during which about 11.000 people died.
Ebola has spread beyond Congo's borders
Concerns about the spread of the virus have grown further after Uganda and Kenya reported cases linked to the Congo outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the risk of an epidemic is very high in the Congo, and high in the countries bordering it.
According to WHO's October 8 assessment, the global risk and the risk for the rest of the African region are assessed as low, with continued monitoring of the situation.
The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, as well as by contact with contaminated objects. It can also be transmitted from infected animals to humans. It is not transmitted through the air or through normal contact in public places.
Initial symptoms include sudden fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and sore throat. In more severe stages, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, organ dysfunction and bleeding may occur.
The WHO has called for increased surveillance, rapid case detection and cross-border cooperation to prevent further spread of the epidemic.
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