Nearly one month after the Ebola outbreak was declared, Democratic Republic of Congo authorities reported the highest increase in Ebola cases in one day at 72 new cases reported in a 24-hour period.
Here are five Ebola updates.
1. There are currently 782 confirmed cases in Congo and 181 confirmed deaths, up from 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths as of June 10, according to the CDC. Ituri province has the most cases, with 629 confirmed cases from 19 health zones, according to the World Health Organization. In North Kivu, 44 confirmed cases have been reported from nine health zones and South Kivu has three cases in one health zone. Uganda’s cases remain at 19 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths, a total that has not increased since June 5.
2. So far, 262 individuals have been hospitalized in isolation for Ebola in Congo, 56 people have recovered from Ebola, and the current fatality rate is 23%, the Congolese Ministry of Health said. Previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks had mortality rates of 25% to 50%.
3. Contact tracing coverage rate is now at 56%, down from the previous week, ABC News reported June 15. Tracing has been most difficult among the thousands of artisanal miners who move between remote sites. The World Health Organization said it is intensifying testing, contact tracing and treatment.
4. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the outbreak is outpacing the response effort due to gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, contact tracing and community engagement.
“No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in Congo,” Kate White, BSN, emergency medical coordinator for MSF in Congo, said in a June 15 news release. “What we do know is that most treatment centers in Ituri province are overwhelmed; many of our patients arrive at a late stage of the disease, and the majority were never identified or monitored as contacts before seeking care.”
5. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said outbreak vigilance must remain high, and is urging continued regional cooperation, sustained investment and strong community engagement.
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