Ebola Cases Surpass 1,000 in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has infected more than 1,000 people and killed 267, according to Reuters, citing health officials and the World Health Organization.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and has spread across three provinces in eastern Congo.

Reuters reported that the disease has also reached at least three displacement camps, where overcrowding and limited sanitation have complicated response efforts.

An 18-month-old girl died after contracting Ebola in the Hungbe displacement camp, according to a Congolese health report seen by Reuters.

The child had fever symptoms for more than a week and was taken to two health centres before being tested for Ebola. She died before the positive test result was returned.

The report said at least 107 people had contact with the child, including relatives, health workers and people from other camps.

A Congolese health official said there was a shortage of facilities to isolate patients in the surrounding Nizi zone.

UNICEF preliminary data showed that nearly one-fifth of confirmed cases are children.

The International Organization for Migration said at least 25 cases and 14 deaths had been confirmed in displacement camps.

A smaller number of cases has also been reported in neighbouring Uganda.

It was not immediately clear whether response teams had traced all contacts linked to the latest camp infections.

SOURCE: Reuters