Ebola Outbreak Spreads to Seventh Province in Congo
Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to a seventh province, raising fears that the disease could expand beyond the country’s eastern region. Authorities confirmed a case in Sud-Ubangi involving a 23-year-old man who had travelled through several provinces and neighbouring countries before he died.
Government figures show that 6,942 cases and 3,349 deaths have been reported as of Wednesday, while the World Health Organization says the outbreak remains out of control. The spread is being worsened by insecurity, displacement, population movements and a health workers’ strike.
Health authorities have begun vaccinating frontline workers with the Ervebo vaccine, while clinical trials are underway to develop a vaccine specifically for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak. Officials are particularly concerned about the risk of the virus spreading into neighbouring countries, including the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
