Ebola claims over 1 000 lives in DR Congo, world’s second-deadliest outbreak

More than 1 000 people have died as Ebola outbreak in Congo's North Kivu continues worsening. An alarming number of cases was reported in recent days across multiple hotspots.

Since the beginning of the epidemic in August 2018, the accumulated number of cases is 1 554, including 1 488 confirmed and 66 probable.

In total, there were 1 029 deaths (963 confirmed and 66 probable) and 438 people cured.

There are currently 213 suspected cases under investigation.

23 cases were reported in one day last week, the highest since the start of the outbreak, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)  reports. 

Major security challenges and lack of community acceptance of the response continue to hamper efforts to end the outbreak.

Worryingly, many of these deaths are occurring within communities which means that people are not seeking care and treatment in health centers, IFRC said. This is accelerating the spread of Ebola within communities.

"We are at a critical juncture where we need to step up our support to communities that are facing a greater risk of infection, yet Ebola responders face massive security challenges and a lack of resources for the response. An under-resourced operation creates a very real risk of an international spread of Ebola," Nicole Fassina, Ebola Virus Disease Coordinator for the IFRC said.

This is the world's second deadliest Ebola outbreak after more than 11 300 people died in West Africa in 2014 – 16.

Featured image credit: fotosdoacre