More than 900 suspected Ebola cases have been identified in the war-hit Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tedros revealed in a social media update that intensified surveillance efforts in the country had uncovered a rapidly growing number of potential infections linked to the latest Ebola outbreak.
“As surveillance efforts increase in response to the Ebola outbreak in DRC, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases,” he said.
However, no updated death toll was provided in his latest statement.
Ebola is a highly dangerous viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. The illness can trigger severe internal bleeding, organ failure and death if not contained quickly.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo officially declared the outbreak on May 15, with health authorities confirming that it involves the deadly Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Currently, there is no specific vaccine or targeted treatment available for this strain, raising fears among international health experts as the outbreak spreads in conflict-affected regions.
In an earlier update, Congo’s Health Ministry reported that 204 deaths had already been recorded across three provinces, based on 867 suspected cases identified nationwide.
The worsening outbreak has reignited concerns over Africa’s long battle with Ebola, which has killed more than 15,000 people across the continent over the past five decades.
