Dakar: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to two additional northeastern provinces, raising fresh concerns among health authorities as the number of infections and deaths continues to increase.
The National Institute of Public Health confirmed that Haut-Uele and Tshopo have now been added to the list of affected provinces. According to the latest official figures, the country has recorded 1,926 confirmed Ebola cases, including 702 deaths. Health officials reported four confirmed cases in Tshopo, two of which resulted in fatalities, while Haut-Uele recorded one Ebola-related death.
The current outbreak, declared on May 15, is the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola epidemic. Most infections have been concentrated in Ituri province, although cases have also been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu. Authorities said investigations suggest that the newly reported cases in Haut-Uele and Tshopo were linked to infections imported from Ituri.
Health officials said the spread of the virus into additional provinces has prompted authorities to classify Haut-Uele and Tshopo as part of the epidemic zone. Contact tracing, surveillance and monitoring efforts have been intensified to identify potential infections and prevent further transmission in the affected communities.
The World Health Organization has also expressed concern that the outbreak may be significantly larger than official figures suggest. According to a senior WHO official, many newly confirmed Ebola cases cannot be linked to previously identified patients, making it more difficult for health teams to trace chains of transmission and contain the disease.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals. Symptoms include fever, vomiting and severe bleeding, and the illness can be fatal without prompt medical care. Health authorities continue to urge communities to report symptoms early and cooperate with response teams as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.
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