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Ebola hemorrhagic fever

New Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Raises Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

At least 15 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, including four health care workers, have died in the country's 16th major outbreak of the Ebola virus. The outbreak, which has been confirmed in the southern Kasai province, has already resulted in at least 28 suspected cases of the disease. Health officials have confirmed the presence of the Zaire strain of the virus, which has caused two of the worst Ebola outbreaks in Africa, sickening tens of thousands of people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in at least 15 deaths, including four health care workers, and at least 28 suspected cases of the disease.
  • The outbreak has been confirmed to be caused by the Zaire strain of the virus, which has caused two of the worst Ebola outbreaks in Africa.
  • The disease has an average case fatality rate of roughly 50 percent, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • The first known case, called an index case, involved a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to a local hospital last month with high fever and vomiting.
  • Health officials have expressed concerns about how recent cuts to U.S. Agency for International Development will impact the country's response to the new Ebola outbreak.
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo has deployed a national rapid response team to the Kasai province to aid in disease response and prevention.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo's response to the outbreak, deploying experts and medical supplies needed to protect health workers and care for patients.
  • The country has a stockpile of medication to treat infections and roughly 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, which will be given to people exposed to the virus and health care personnel working on the front lines.

Statistics:

  • At least 15 people have died in the new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • At least 28 suspected cases of the disease have been reported.
  • The Zaire strain of the virus has caused two of the worst Ebola outbreaks in Africa, sickening tens of thousands of people.
  • The disease has an average case fatality rate of roughly 50 percent.
  • The country has a stockpile of medication to treat infections and roughly 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine.

Sources:

  • The Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry
  • The World Health Organization
  • The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Emory University's Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, an infectious-disease expert
  • USAID
  • University of California at Los Angeles' Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist

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