Ebola virus
from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – ONE year since the latest Ebola outbreak was first declared in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the disease continues to spread with 1 803 deaths from 2 690 cases.
This has coincided with the outbreak spreading into its third city this week.
Goma in the North Kivu saw its second confirmed death as the result of infection which could lead to the first active transmission of the disease inside the regional capital of an estimated two million inhabitants.
“The second confirmed case of Ebola in Goma is very alarming. This outbreak is far from under control,” said Andre Heller, Ebola Response Director at the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The Ituri province is also experiencing an outbreak.
Several people died when the outbreak spread to Uganda but it has since been brought under control.
Following the confirmation of a second Ebola case in Goma, the United Nations (UN) said it was working hard to mobilize all aspects of the response.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated it was further scaling up response and preparedness measures.
Conflict perpetrated by rebel groups is affecting the response to the crisis.
The current outbreak is the second worst in global history after the outbreak that claimed over 11 000 lives in West Africa between 2013 and 2016.
– CAJ News