KABUL (Pajhwok): The number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 10,000, raising concerns about the virus spreading to other African countries.
Reuters reported, citing data from the Congolese Public Health Institute, that the country had recorded 10,060 cases and 4,887 deaths.
The report said the current outbreak was caused by a rare strain of the virus known as Bundibugyo, with the outbreak declared in May this year.
According to the report, the current outbreak has become the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in the DRC, surpassing the outbreak recorded in the country between 2018 and 2020.
The report added that the world’s largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, infecting more than 28,600 people and killing over 11,000. Most of the victims were in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Kenya recorded its first Ebola case earlier this month, bringing the total number of cases there to nine, the report said.
Reuters also reported that Nigeria recorded its first Ebola case last week, becoming the fourth African country to report an infection in the current outbreak.
Uganda recorded 20 Ebola cases in May and June, most of which were imported from the DRC. However, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak in Uganda over in August.
Ugandan officials have said there are currently no Ebola cases in the country.
Uganda’s health minister said on Sunday that citizens returning from the DRC who had travelled there would be quarantined for 21 days.
hz/sa
