Ebola Outbreak Kills More than 200 in Congo

An outbreak of Ebola in Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed more than 200 lives, according to the latest figures released by the country’s Ministry of Health.

Health authorities reported 204 deaths among 867 suspected cases recorded across three provinces, marking a sharp increase in the spread of the deadly virus.

Earlier figures from World Health Organization had documented 177 deaths from 750 suspected infections.

Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that 10 African countries are at risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Congo and neighboring Uganda.

Africa CDC director Jean Kaseya identified the countries at risk as South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Angola, Central African Republic and Zambia.

Ebola causes severe hemorrhagic fever and has killed more than 15,000 people across Africa over the past five decades. However, experts note that the disease is less contagious than illnesses such as COVID-19 or measles.

With no approved vaccine or treatment currently available for the Bundibugyo strain behind the latest outbreak, containment efforts are relying heavily on rapid detection, isolation measures and strict health precautions.