African health agency warns that Ebola outbreak is spreading faster than previous ones
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports 1,759 laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease and 600 deaths
The number of confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo increased 25% in a week, the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the African Union, indicated this Thursday.
"Unfortunately, the virus continues to get ahead of our response. It is spreading faster than resources are deployed to control the situation," said Emergency Preparedness and Response Chief Wessam Mankoula.
In total, 600 deaths have been recorded among 1,759 confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the start of the current epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated this Thursday in a situation report dated July 7.
In neighboring Uganda the balance remains stable, with two deaths out of 20 confirmed cases.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered 17 Ebola epidemics, but there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current epidemic.
The most violent Ebola epidemic in history, which hit West Africa between the end of 2013 and 2016, caused more than 11,300 deaths among some 29,000 registered cases, more than 99% in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.