The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 1,500 deaths in its latest Ebola outbreak, with health authorities confirming 1,521 fatalities and 3,442 laboratory-confirmed cases since the outbreak began in late April.
Officials said the outbreak has a 44 per cent fatality rate, while health experts warned the true number of infections could be higher because many cases may have gone undetected. They also believe the virus circulated for months before it was officially identified in May.
The World Food Programme (WFP) described the epidemic as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, noting that it took eight months for the 2014–2015 West Africa outbreak to reach 1,000 deaths. Health agencies are intensifying surveillance, treatment and containment efforts to slow the spread of the disease.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons and can be fatal if not treated promptly. Authorities continue to urge vigilance as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.
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