Ebola Cases in Congo Exceed 11,000

The outbreak was declared in mid-May, but authorities have still been unable to bring the spread of the infection under control. Efforts are being hampered by armed conflicts, a healthcare system in crisis, poor road conditions, as well as public distrust and misinformation.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which no known vaccines or specific treatments are available. The infection has spread to eight of the country's 26 provinces.

Health authorities are particularly concerned about renewed outbreaks of violence in the two hardest-hit provinces, Ituri and North Kivu. Experts are calling for an end to the fighting so that healthcare workers can reach infected people without obstruction and provide them with medical care.

Attacks on healthcare facilities and medical personnel are further complicating the situation. Distrust of information about the virus persists in some communities, increasing the risks faced by those involved in containing the epidemic.

Experts are urging stronger measures to contain the infection. Meanwhile, cases have also been reported outside Congo, including in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.

Since the virus was first identified in 1976, several dozen Ebola outbreaks have occurred worldwide. The largest and deadliest outbreak affected West African countries in 2014–2016, when approximately 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths were recorded.

The current outbreak in Congo is already the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record. According to the report, over a comparable period following the declaration of the outbreak, the numbers of infections and deaths were at least three times higher than during the West African epidemic.