Loss of Life in the Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo Increased to 3 Thousand 901

According to the data of the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the case fatality rate was recorded above 48 percent in the epidemic that affected 63 regions in 7 provinces of the country.

NUMBER OF CASES EXCEEDED 8 THOUSAND

Accordingly, while the number of confirmed cases was recorded as 8 thousand 67, the number of deaths was 3 thousand 901.

While the epidemic is showing signs of slowing down in some regions, the number of confirmed cases has decreased in Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces, but the disease continues to spread in other regions.

The lack of healthcare workers in the fight against the epidemic, strikes due to payment problems, security problems and intense population movements make work difficult.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Ebola virus, which causes a type of hemorrhagic fever, first appeared in 1976 with simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan, and Yambuku, DRC.

Since the epidemic in the DRC started in a village near the Ebola River, the disease was named after this river.

The Ebola virus spread in West Africa in December 2013. More than 28 thousand people were infected with the virus and more than 11 thousand people died in the epidemic seen in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone between 2014 and 2016.

Following the cases and deaths announced in Ituri province in the east of the DRC, an Ebola epidemic was declared in the country on May 15.

According to health officials, the outbreak, which started in May, is caused by the rare "Bundibugyo" variant of the Ebola virus.