Congo’s Ebola cases surpass 11,000, gov’t data show

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in ​the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed ‌11,000, government data showed on Tuesday.

Confirmed infections now total 11,042, and 5,387 people have died, ​the data showed

The outbreak, caused ​by the rare Bundibugyo species of the ⁠Ebola virus, was declared in mid-May. ​There are no approved treatments or vaccines ​for this species

It is the second-largest and deadliest outbreak on record behind only the 2014-2016 West ​African outbreak, which infected more than ​28,600 people and killed more than 11,000

Eight of ‌Congo’s ⁠26 provinces have been affected, and many deaths have occurred outside treatment centres

Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have ​led to ​a more ⁠rapid spread of the virus than in previous outbreaks

The disease ​has now been reported in East, ​Central ⁠and West Africa, giving it the widest geographic spread of any Ebola outbreak on the ⁠continent ​to date

Also read:

• GMA urges gov’t to intensify Ebola preparedness after detection of Bundibugyo strain in Nigeria

• More than 5,000 die from Ebola in DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak