Deadly Ebola outbreak cases exceed 1,000 in DR Congo

Doctors in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are battling Ebola as the number of contracted persons escalates and has exceeded 1,000, making the current outbreak the second largest ever recorded, aid workers say.

More than 629 people have died since last August. New cases have increased sharply over the past week, with 58 new cases reported – the highest number in a week in 2019.

“We are already almost seven months into this outbreak and at this stage we should be seeing the case rate declining, not on the rise,” said the International Rescue Committee.

Several treatment facilities have been attacked and infectious patients have been let out.

IRC added that they are looking forward to more than six months or even a year fighting the disease.

There are concerns that some people are staying away from treatment centres, making it difficult to prevent further spread of the disease.

Ebola virus is transmitted among humans through close and direct physical contact with infected bodily fluids, the most infectious being blood, faeces and vomit.