0
0
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the central Kasai province, which has claimed 15 lives since late August. The announcement was made by the country’s Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, on Thursday, September 4.
According to Minister Kamba, this marks the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The first case was identified on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to a local hospital. Since then, 28 suspected cases have been reported.
The DRC’s last Ebola outbreak occurred three years ago, resulting in six deaths. However, the deadliest outbreak in the country’s history happened between 2018 and 2020, claiming nearly 2,300 lives.
Ebola, a viral disease first identified in 1976 and believed to originate from bats, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. It often causes severe bleeding and organ failure, making it a deadly infection.
The current outbreak has been traced to the Zaire strain of the virus, for which a vaccine is available. While the vaccine exists, Minister Kamba warned that logistical challenges, including the country’s poor infrastructure and limited communication networks, could complicate efforts to deploy it effectively.
The DRC, which is four times the size of France, continues to face significant hurdles in managing outbreaks due to these ongoing infrastructure issues, making containment efforts difficult.
