600 de@d following Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 600 lives, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), just three days after the death toll surpassed 500.

Updated data from the UN health agency shows that 1,759 confirmed cases have been recorded in the DRC since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, including 600 confirmed deaths. In neighbouring Uganda, two people have died from the disease, while 17 of the country’s 20 confirmed cases have recovered.

According to the WHO, the outbreak in the DRC currently has a 34 per cent case fatality rate, based on figures provided by the country’s health authorities. A total of 285 patients have recovered, while 304 suspected cases remain under investigation. The outbreak has affected four provinces in northeastern DRC, with the epicentre located in Ituri Province.

Health authorities said the outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare species for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. On July 2, the DRC launched clinical trials of two potential treatments. The study is evaluating the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination.

Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through close contact with infected individuals or their bodily fluids. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, following several deaths in the mineral-rich Ituri Province, a region that has long been affected by armed conflict and insecurity.