Kinshasa, July 13 (IANS). The Ebola virus outbreak is continuously increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). So far, 1,873 cases of infection have been reported in five provinces of the country, while 672 people have died. This information was given by the country’s health officials quoting a report.
Xinhua said that the report released on Sunday includes figures till Friday. According to this, Ebola outbreak is more in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haute-Uele and Shopo (Tshopo) provinces. Haut-Uelles and Shoppo are included in the national situation report for the first time.
Investigation has revealed that the cases of infection found in these two provinces are linked to the epicenter of the outbreak in Ituri Province through movement and contact of people.
According to the report, currently 763 patients are in isolation or undergoing treatment in hospitals. 95.1 per cent of the total available bed capacity in treatment centers is occupied. So far, 306 patients have recovered, while 299 suspected cases have been registered, including 91 deaths.
The Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak was officially announced on 15 May.
Earlier on Saturday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that concerns about the safety of health workers have increased after an American humanitarian aid worker assisting in the Ebola control campaign in DRC was found infected.
Health workers, humanitarian aid workers, volunteers and other operational staff are working in extremely challenging conditions, Africa CDC said in a statement. They are trying to stop the chain of infection by identifying the infected, treating patients and ensuring the safety of affected communities.
The organization said that in case of American aid workers getting infected, epidemiological investigation, contact tracing and infection risk assessment have been started. However, investigation into how the infection occurred is still ongoing.
According to the latest data from the African Union’s public health agency, at least 112 health workers have been infected by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in DRC so far, while 35 have died.
–IANS
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