The death toll from Congo's Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000, according to figures from the Congolese Ministry of Health, which report 5,026 deaths and 10,351 total cases since the outbreak was confirmed in May. This puts the lethality rate at nearly 50%.
Second Deadliest Outbreak on Record
The outbreak, triggered by the Bundibugyo virus, is the second deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, trailing only the West Africa outbreak from 2014 to 2016, which claimed 11,000 lives over two years.
World Health Organization (WHO) programme manager Dr Patrick Otim said the "very tragic milestone is just not a number." "It is families and communities that have been devastated by this outbreak," he said, as per NBC News. "The number also shows the severity of this outbreak."
No Treatment or Vaccine Available
Health officials say there is currently no recognised treatment or vaccine for Bundibugyo. Healthcare workers in Congo have been managing patients according to their symptoms, with 2,788 individuals reportedly having recovered from the disease so far.
The Bundibugyo virus is one of four Ebola virus species recognised to cause illness in humans, according to WHO. Initial symptoms include sudden fever and headache, severe fatigue and weakness, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, loss of appetite and chills.
Spread Across Health Zones
As the disease develops, sufferers can experience severe diarrhoea, relentless vomiting, considerable abdominal pain, nausea, red or irritated eyes, skin rashes, chest pain, breathing difficulties and confusion. In critical cases, complications can involve bleeding from the nose or gums, unexplained bleeding, blood in vomit or stools, unusual or internal bleeding, organ failure or shock.
Since the outbreak was declared in May, Ebola has reached 67 of the nation's 178 health zones across eight of 26 provinces, with 50 of the affected 67 health zones currently reporting active cases. Transmission has primarily been attributed to authorities battling to trace and test known contacts, a crucial element in containing the outbreak.
