Ebola crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo surpasses all others in fatalities, claiming more than 2,300 lives

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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history according to public health officials.

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With more than 2,300 people reported to have died from the virus since the outbreak was declared in May.

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As reported by the BBC on Monday, health authorities said 4,945 confirmed cases had been recorded, including 101 new cases in a single 24-hour period.

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The virus has spread to six of the country’s 26 provinces, prompting concerns over the speed of transmission.

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The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a rare strain with only two previously known outbreaks.

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Unlike the Zaire species responsible for several major Ebola epidemics, there is currently no approved vaccine specifically available for Bundibugyo Ebola.

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Public health officials have described the outbreak as exceptionally fast-moving. The United Nations humanitarian chief has warned that the epidemic was killing approximately one person every 30 minutes at its peak.

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The virus has largely remained within the Democratic Republic of Congo, although cases have been reported in neighbouring Uganda and a small number of cases have been detected in Europe.

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Efforts are under way to contain the outbreak, with the World Health Organization aiming to bring transmission under control within three months.

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However, health officials have warned that controlling transmission does not necessarily mean the outbreak will end immediately.

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Scientists are also working to develop vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain.

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Britain’s medicines regulator has approved human trials of a vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, using technology similar to that employed in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

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Ebola is a rare but highly dangerous viral disease. Symptoms can include fever, headache and fatigue, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea in severe cases.

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The virus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person.

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The latest outbreak is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the virus was first identified there 50 years ago.

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Years of conflict, population movement and pressure on the country’s health system have made controlling outbreaks particularly difficult.

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With cases continuing to rise rapidly, health authorities are increasing surveillance, treatment and infection-control measures as they work to slow the spread of the disease.

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