3 weeks ago
DR Congo's Ebola outbreak surpasses 4,000 cases, 1,850 deaths
Ebola is a very serious sickness that can make people very ill.
Right now, many people are sick with Ebola in a country called the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.
The government says more than 4,000 people have gotten sick, and sadly, nearly 1,850 have died.
The sickness has spread to five different parts of the country.
Leaders officially announced the outbreak on May 15, but scientists think it actually started earlier, in January or even before that.
Researchers found more than 500 people who were probably sick before the announcement.
This is the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, and it is spreading faster than any other outbreak on record.
It has been hard to stop because there is fighting in the area, not enough help for sick people, and no treatment for this type of virus.
Only the big West Africa outbreak in 2014-2016 was bigger, with over 28,000 cases.
Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached 4,053, including 1,850 deaths.
Cases have been recorded in five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.
A Science journal report suggests the outbreak started in January or earlier in Ituri, with more than 500 suspected cases before May 15.
The epidemic is the world's second-largest and has been described as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record.
Delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance, military conflict, and a lack of vaccines and treatments have allowed the disease to outrun containment efforts.
- Who
- People in the Democratic Republic of Congo, tracked by the country's public health institute.
- What
- The Ebola outbreak surpassed 4,000 confirmed cases, reaching 4,053 infections and 1,850 deaths.
- Where
- Democratic Republic of Congo, in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.
- When
- The outbreak was declared on May 15; the latest government data was reported on August 7.
- Why
- Delayed detection, overwhelmed surveillance, military conflict, and a lack of vaccines and treatments for the virus species have allowed the disease to spread.
Key facts
- Confirmed infections
- 4,053
- Deaths
- 1,850
- Provinces affected
- 5 (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo)
- Outbreak declared
- May 15
- Likely start date
- January or earlier (per Science journal report)
- Suspected cases before declaration
- More than 500
- Outbreak rank
- World's second-largest; fastest-spreading on record
- Largest comparison
- West Africa 2014-16 outbreak with over 28,000 cases
Sources
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