By Reuters
DAKAR, July 13 — The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to two additional northeastern provinces, raising concerns among health authorities as the country’s latest epidemic continues to expand, according to the National Institute of Public Health.
Official data released late on Sunday showed that the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to 1,926, including 702 deaths, making it one of the country’s most severe outbreaks in recent years. Four confirmed cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Tshopo Province, while Haut Uele Province has recorded one confirmed death.
The current outbreak, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 17th Ebola epidemic, was officially declared on May 15 and has been largely concentrated in Ituri Province. Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu, with the latest spread marking the first time Tshopo and Haut Uele have been formally classified as epidemic zones.
According to the National Institute of Public Health, ongoing investigations indicate that the newly detected infections in Tshopo and Haut Uele are believed to have originated from Niania, a health zone in Ituri Province. Despite their apparent origin, authorities said the continued transmission warranted officially designating both provinces as part of the outbreak area.
Health experts remain concerned that the epidemic may be significantly larger than official figures suggest.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that the true scale of the outbreak could be two to four times greater than the reported numbers because a large proportion of newly confirmed patients have no identifiable links to previously known cases, indicating undetected community transmission.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals. Symptoms include sudden fever, severe weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Without rapid diagnosis and supportive medical care, the disease can be fatal.
The expanding outbreak presents an additional challenge for Congolese health authorities, who are already responding to insecurity in parts of eastern Congo, logistical constraints and difficulties in tracing contacts of infected individuals.
Public health officials continue to intensify surveillance, contact tracing and treatment efforts in an attempt to prevent further spread of the virus into other parts of the country.
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