- Odibo Victory
No fewer than 2600 people have been confirmed dead as Ebola cases surpasses 5500 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
This development was confirmed by the government officials in a report on Monday.
The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said the outbreak has reached a defining moment, more than 100 days after it was declared.
“This outbreak has reached a defining moment,” he said.
The latest official tally, with data through Saturday, recorded 5,514 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths, putting the case fatality rate at 47.9 per cent.
A total of 1,200 patients have recovered.
Reports show that the outbreak has spread to 57 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele and Tshopo provinces.
The WHO said that the epidemic has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC, warning that transmission continues to outpace control efforts.
Janabi, in a statement, said that the choices that are made now will determine how fast the situation can be brought under control.
“The choices we make now will determine how quickly we can bring this outbreak under control, protect and save lives,” he said.
Ituri remains the epicenter, accounting for about 85 per cent of all cases and 79 per cent of deaths, according to the WHO.
Deaths occurring outside Ebola treatment centers remain a major concern.
The WHO said community deaths accounted for around 60 per cent of fatalities recorded in recent weeks, pointing to persistent problems with early detection, referral and access to treatment.