Congo Ebola Toll Reaches 101 Deaths in 550 Cases as Conflict and Mistrust Hamper Response
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 9
Congo Ebola Toll Reaches 101 Deaths in 550 Cases as Conflict and Mistrust Hamper Response
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 9
Summary
101 people have died and 19 have recovered among 550 confirmed Ebola cases in eastern Congo less than a month after the outbreak was declared on May 15.
Ituri accounts for more than 90% of cases, while delayed detection and only 64% contact-tracing coverage suggest the true caseload is higher; cases have also appeared in North Kivu, South Kivu and across the border in Uganda.
Bundibugyo virus is driving the outbreak, leaving officials without an approved vaccine or treatment, while expanded testing has also uncovered a backlog of previously collected samples.
Attacks on health workers, local skepticism and fighting by armed groups are disrupting surveillance and access in a region where nearly 1 million people have already been displaced.
WHO said the conflict is raising the risk of undetected transmission, though it still assesses the wider spread risk for Africa and globally as low.