The Africa Centre for Disease Control says the Ebola epidemic has claimed more than 200 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Africa CDC said 202 people had died from the virus, out of the 875 confirmed cases, giving a mortality rate of 23 percent.
“What is worrisome for us is the contact tracing status. “Because of security challenges and accessibility of some of the areas for our responders from Africa CDC, WHO and different partners… we still see this contact tracing is low.” said Wessam Mankoula, a doctor at the Africa CDC.
The Red Cross warned this week that the outbreak in the DRC, declared on May 15, has yet to peak and could take a year to contain. The response to the epidemic, the 17th to hit the DRC, faces towering challenges as there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus responsible for the current outbreak.
CliqMetro reports that the three affected provinces in the northeastern DRC Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu have long been gripped by conflict and mass displacement, complicating the response.
The outbreak has spread to neighbouring Uganda, which has recorded 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, and most of the cases are Congolese travellers.