The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is growing at an alarming rate. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called for emergency steps to control the situation. Its director general, Jean Kaseya, warned that if the virus’s spread is not halted now, it could become the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in world history.
According to updated figures from DR Congo’s health ministry on Tuesday, confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 2,423 in the 65 days since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Of these, 967 people have died. The current fatality rate is 39.9 percent and the contact-tracing rate 81.1 percent, Anadolu Agency reported.
In a message on the social-media platform X (formerly Twitter), Jean Kaseya said: “The Ebola outbreak is growing at an alarming pace. Action must be taken now. If we cannot stop it today, it will become the largest outbreak in world history.” He added: “This is not a time to delay. Field operations must be strengthened using every resource, so that more lives can be saved.”
The virus has spread to five provinces — Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo. Ituri province has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak, which is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
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