World · Kinshasa · Elections hub
Congo Ebola outbreak passes 9,200 confirmed cases
In brief
The Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported 9,277 confirmed Ebola cases, including 4,478 deaths, as of October 15, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). On October 14 alone, 65 new confirmed cases and 37 deaths were reported. Neighbouring Kenya has now confirmed a second case.
Where the outbreak is
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus. ECDC says 65 of the country's 167 health zones are affected across seven provinces. Ituri is the worst hit, with 6,806 cases and 3,148 deaths, followed by North Kivu with 1,991 cases and 1,133 deaths. About 924 patients are in isolation and 2,486 people have recovered. ECDC also noted media reports, citing officials, of two cases in North Ubangi, which would make it an eighth province.
Kenya's second case
Kenya announced its first imported case on October 6; the patient, a Kenyan who had been living in Congo, later died. The second case is a 39-year-old close family member who fell ill on October 13 while already in quarantine, CIDRAP reported, citing Kenya's Ministry of Health. Officials said 113 of the first patient's 128 contacts had been traced and that they had no evidence of wider spread in the community.
No licensed vaccine for this strain
According to CIDRAP, Bundibugyo has no licensed vaccine or treatment. The WHO allocated 70,000 doses of the existing Ervebo vaccine in August, mostly for frontline health workers and the rest for a trial. The U.S. CDC has called this the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
Why it matters
The outbreak is spreading faster than Congo's 2018 outbreak and the 2014-16 West Africa epidemic, according to CIDRAP, and the Kenyan cases show it can cross borders through travel. Anyone travelling to the affected region should follow official health advice.
Sources
- ECDC: Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- CIDRAP (University of Minnesota): Second Ebola patient identified in Kenya
Every ViralScopeHub news item is an original summary written in our own words. We link to the original reporting so you can read the full story from the publisher.
