Congo Faces Second-Largest Ebola Outbreak on Record

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the second-largest on record worldwide. The number of infected people has risen to 3,532, and 1,556 people have died from the disease, according to data from the Congolese ministry of communications.

Carl Skau, acting head of the UN World Food Program, said this was the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history. In less than three months, it has claimed five times as many lives as previous epidemics did over the same period, the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) noted.

The outbreak is caused by a rare strain of the virus known as Bundibugyo, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Health workers are meanwhile facing attacks on medical facilities amid an unstable security situation in the eastern part of the country, where dozens of armed groups are active. The situation has been further exacerbated by cuts in foreign aid.

The World Health Organization has warned that the true extent of the epidemic may be up to four times higher than official figures suggest. Humanitarian workers say the disease has spread to communities where many people continue to seek out traditional healers.

Africa CDC estimates that $1.4bn will be needed to contain the epidemic. So far, however, only $213.9m of the planned $242.4m for the period from May to August has been secured.

(Reuters, bak)