Ebola reaches seventh DR Congo province amid shortages of funds and staff
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand: a case in Sud-Ubangi province has become the seventh affected province. The patient died, and 38 contacts have been quarantined. The death toll has exceeded 3,200 people, and WHO reports a shortage of about 5,000 health workers and $30 million.
Sources
· 10Случай Эболы выявлен в седьмой провинции ДР Конго
1Эпидемия Эболы охватила новый район ДР Конго, число жертв превысило 3 200
2ВОЗ: для борьбы с Эболой в Конго не хватает 5 тысяч медработников
3ВОЗ предупреждает: борьбе с Эболой в ДРК угрожает нехватка $30 млн
4ВОЗ сообщает о 5794 случаях Эболы и 2786 смертях в ДРК
5Число жертв Эболы в ДР Конго превысило 2500, вспышка охватила территорию больше Франции
6Альянс AFC/M23 объявил о новых ограничениях на передвижение из-за Эболы в восточном Конго
7Число жертв Эболы в ДРК выросло до 3095, подтверждено 6436 случаев
8Папа Лев призвал мир помочь Конго в борьбе с Эболой, унесшей 2500 жизней
9В ДР Конго число заражённых Эболой превысило 5 тысяч, умерло 2378 человек
10Key points
- A case of Ebola has been detected in Sud-Ubangi province, which has become the seventh province of the current outbreak; the patient died, and 38 contacts have been quarantined.
- The epidemic has spread to the Kayna health zone in North Kivu and has covered 61 zones in six provinces; the death toll has exceeded 3,200 people.
- WHO says that about 5,000 additional health workers are required to fight the outbreak, and there is a $30 million shortfall for protective equipment and supplies.
What happened
A case of Ebola has been detected in Sud-Ubangi province, making it the seventh province of DR Congo affected by the current outbreak. Acting Governor Jean-René Galekwa Vundave announced on Friday that Ebola had been detected after laboratory analysis of a suspicious case. The patient died; before arriving in Sud-Ubangi, he traveled through Rwanda, Uganda, and Ituri province. 38 contacts have been placed in quarantine.
Why it matters
WHO warns that active transmission of the Ebola virus continues in DR Congo. There is a $30 million shortfall for delivering protective equipment and supplies to affected areas. DRC authorities and WHO have begun implementing an updated 180-day response plan with an emphasis on early detection and preparedness in regions where there is no infection yet.
What changed
As of 26 August, WHO reported 5,794 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,786 deaths in 60 health zones across six provinces. Later, the DRC Ministry of Health reported 6,436 confirmed cases and 3,095 deaths in 60 zones across six provinces; the case fatality rate was 48.1 percent. The case in Sud-Ubangi has made it the seventh province, and WHO now cites 61 zones in six provinces.
Who's affected
Sud-Ubangi and North Kivu provinces are affected; the patient from Sud-Ubangi traveled through Ituri, Rwanda, and Uganda before arriving there. In South Kivu, no new confirmed case has been recorded for 95 days. Earlier, because of Ebola, the AFC/M23 alliance imposed movement restrictions in eastern Congo: shared taxis on the Goma–Kirumba road and canoes on certain sections of Lake Edward were suspended for a month.
Context
The outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or drugs. The UN previously reported that the affected area is larger than France and that the number of infections is growing exponentially. Pope Leo called on the international community to help Congo fight Ebola, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives.
Related original articles
- 4h agoСлучай Эболы выявлен в седьмой провинции ДР КонгоAl Jazeera English
- 9h agoЭпидемия Эболы охватила новый район ДР Конго, число жертв превысило 3 20024.kz
- 3d agoВОЗ: для борьбы с Эболой в Конго не хватает 5 тысяч медработниковKursiv.kz
- Aug 27ВОЗ предупреждает: борьбе с Эболой в ДРК угрожает нехватка $30 млнKursiv.kz