Congo: The number of cases linked to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to rise, with 1,077 suspected cases reported since the outbreak began, including 246 deaths, the Congolese government said on Wednesday.
According to DPA, 121 infections had been confirmed in the laboratory, including 17 fatal cases.
The World Health Organisation believes the actual figure could be significantly higher because the outbreak in Ituri province, located on the border with Uganda and South Sudan, went unnoticed for several weeks, and not all cases are being officially reported.
Health authorities are continuing efforts to trace infections and contain the spread of the virus in affected regions. The outbreak has raised concerns due to the movement of people across borders and the challenges of monitoring infections in remote areas.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms can include fever, weakness, vomiting and internal bleeding.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the years, with health agencies repeatedly working to contain infections through testing, isolation and vaccination campaigns.
The current outbreak in Ituri province has become a major concern for both local authorities and international health organisations. Officials fear that undetected cases and delayed reporting may complicate containment measures.
According to the World Health Organisation, the number of infections reported so far may not fully reflect the actual scale of the outbreak because some communities remain difficult to access and not every suspected case is reaching health authorities.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to monitor the situation closely as medical teams and international agencies intensify response efforts aimed at preventing further spread of the disease.
