World’s second-largest Ebola outbreak spreads to major city, DR Congo

World's second-largest Ebola outbreak has spread to the city of Butembo (population 1 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). New cases are increasing quickly in Butembo's eastern suburbs and outlying, isolated districts, sparking fears of its containment.

There has been a "significant increase" in infections there over the past three weeks, with a total of 25 confirmed cases thus far, according to a bulletin released by DRC's health ministry on December 6.

North Kivu and Ituri, where cases are being reported, are among the most populous provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are also awash with violence and insecurity, particularly in the mineral-rich borderlands where militia activity has surged over the past year, all of which complicates the international response to the Ebola outbreak, ABC reports.

The ministry said that without the teams that vaccinated more than 41 000 people so far, this outbreak could have already seen more than 10 000 Ebola cases.

This is by far the largest use of the promising but still-experimental Ebola vaccine, which is owned by Merck. The company keeps a stockpile of 300 000 doses, and preparing them takes months, according to the AP.

Image courtesy WHO

Concerns have also been raised regarding the disproportionate number of women and children infected during this outbreak, WHO said.

To date, females accounted for 62% (280/450) of overall cases where sex was reported. Of all female cases, 83% (230/277) were aged ≥15 years.

Of these women, at least 18 were pregnant, and an additional seven were breastfeeding or recently delivered at the time of infection.

There have been 27 cases among infants less than one year of age, with 70% (19) of these being boys, and 21 fatalities (age-specific case fatality of 78%). There were also nine cases in infants aged less than one month.

Children less than 15 years of age accounted for 24% (106/447) of cases.

Image courtesy WHO

While Ebola is endemic to DRC, this is the 10^th and the worst outbreak the country has seen since 1976 when scientists first identified the virus.

The current outbreak was declared on August 1 and has since grown to world's second-largest. There are currently 471 Ebola cases, of which 423 are confirmed, including 225 confirmed Ebola deaths, the health ministry said.

World's worst Ebola outbreak took place between 2014 and 2016, killing more than 11 300 people.

Featured image credit: Gavin Finnegan