Kinshasa, April 30 (RHC)-- The number of dead from the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to 814 since the outbreak was first confirmed last August, according to the latest health ministry report.
During this latest major outbreak of Ebola, so far there are 1,198 confirmed cases of the virus and there are 66 probable cases. Another 231 cases are suspected, says the health ministry via Twitter. All deaths were reported to have taken place in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Some 371 people have been cured of the virus since the outbreak was declared in August 2018. A total of 1,264 cases (1,198 confirmed and 66 probable), 814 deaths and 374 people cured (in total) - 13 new cases - 11 new deaths of confirmed cases - 231 suspected cases - 3 new cures.
The Ebola virus has symptoms of fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and causes death 90 percent of the time in the infected. Despite the actions undertaken by national and international health institutions, the outbreak has not yet been controlled because some communities refuse to receive treatment saying they are being mistreated by authorities and that the efforts to cure and vaccinate have been “militarized.”
Epidemiological control has also been weakened due to political instability at the national level and insecurity at the DRC’s northeast border where numerous armed groups operate.
More than 89,656 people have been inoculated since vaccinations began in August 2018 in the DRC. This massive campaign has been focused mainly in the cities of Mabalako, Beni, Mandima, Katwa and Butembo.
The world's most devastating outbreak was declared in March 2014 with cases that dated back to December 2013. That time, Ebola spread across parts of the eastern African nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
In January 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the multi-national outbreak ended, but not before 11,300 people died and more than 28,500 were infected. These figures could be underestimated according to the agency.
