Ebola outbreak spirals out of control: "Thousands have died from the virus"

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: more than 11,000 infected and at least 5,387 dead in six months. Doctors Without Borders warns of equipment shortages and armed attacks hampering containment efforts. There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus strain.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen: more than 11,000 people have been infected and at least 5,387 have died within about six months. This is the second-largest outbreak ever recorded, after the West Africa epidemic of 2014-2016. British epidemiologist Prof. Neil Ferguson estimates that only about half of all infection cases are actually identified, and that between 2,000 and 3,000 people are currently ill. Doctors Without Borders warns of staff shortages, payment delays, ambulances without fuel, and a lack of protective equipment. Nearly three-quarters of Ebola patients in the Bena health zone were infected in healthcare facilities. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment. Armed attacks in North Kivu have killed 66 people, including three health workers, and caused the loss of follow-up on more than 1,000 individuals.