More and more deaths So far the most severe Ebola outbreak in Congo

The most severe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the hardest in the country so far. Around 200 people have died as a result of the disease. Health experts assume that the epidemic can be stopped.

Around 200 dead

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola continues to spread. The dangerous infectious disease has cost about 200 lives since the beginning of the outbreak about two months ago. According to press reports, the Congolese Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that the Ebola virus had been confirmed in 291 cases so far. Over 28,000 people were therefore vaccinated against the disease.

In the Congo, around 200 people have died from the onset of the Ebola outbreak since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak. Experts believe that the epidemic can be brought under control. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Difficulties for helpers

The latest outbreak of the dangerous haemorrhagic fever is reportedly concentrated on the city of Beni and its surroundings in the troubled North Kivu province.

Several militias and rebel groups are active in this region, making it difficult for helpers to quickly visit and isolate patients and contact their relatives.

Nevertheless, a large vaccination campaign could be started.

Epidemic can be stopped

There is resistance to the vaccine, but World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his hopes.

"The fact that we have prevented Ebola from spreading to neighboring countries is testament to the hard work and determination of the workforce of all partners," said Drs. Tedros according to a message.

He was confident that the outbreak could be stopped.

Experts warned of next outbreak

On the African continent there are always Ebola outbreaks.

In 2016 alone, more than 28,600 people in West Africa were affected by the most severe outbreak to date. 11,300 deaths were reported at the end of this epidemic.

According to experts, it was only a matter of time until the next epidemic comes. For example, WHO warned a long time ago that a new outbreak of Ebola would be inevitable.

The current outbreak in the Congo is the tenth in the country and is considered the hardest. The largest so far according to WHO 1976 in Yambuku instead. At that time there were 318 cases, 280 people died.

Illness is often deadly

Ebola has so far only occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. However, during the last Ebola epidemic in West Africa, individual cases were also imported to the US and Europe.

Early Ebola symptoms are nonspecific and resemble a flu infection. This can lead to fever, malaise, fatigue and body aches.

"After 3 to 10 days, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may be added," explains the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website.

"In the course of the disease may appear other symptoms: redness of the conjunctiva, head and chest pain, joint and muscle pain, difficulty swallowing, internal and external hemorrhage (hemorrhage), delirium and respiratory distress," it continues.

According to the experts, the disease - depending on the responsible for the outbreak virus - in 30 to 90 percent of cases fatal. (Ad)