Ebola outbreak from DRC spreads to four other African countries
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Thepoint
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, declared in May in eastern DRC, has spread to four other countries, including Nigeria, and remains active in two of them. It has now reached three African regions, an unprecedented geographical spread for an Ebola outbreak, Associated Press reports.
The Ebola outbreak that started in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to four other African countries, including two where cases remain active, Associated Press reports. Nigeria was the latest country affected, on Tuesday, as the outbreak has now reached three African regions, an unprecedented geographical spread for an Ebola outbreak.
In the DRC, the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak has infected 9,500 people and caused at least 4,600 deaths, according to figures reported by Associated Press. There is no approved vaccine or medicine for this strain. The World Health Organization has described it as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
The virus’s arrival in Nigeria adds to cases reported in the country and Kenya, which the WHO raised the alarm about on 22 October. The outbreak, declared in eastern DRC in mid-May, has also reached Nord-Ubangi, the eighth Congolese province affected, according to figures published on 15 October. The Bundibugyo-strain outbreak has also led Médecins Sans Frontières to announce that it will close its centre in Bunia at the end of the month, after providing care to 572 patients.
