KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo / AfricaWire.IO / – Ebola has killed 5,340 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 10,351 confirmed cases recorded as of October 29, the Ministry of Health announced. The case fatality rate stood at 51.6%, according to a statement on the ministry’s website. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is spreading faster than previous Ebola outbreaks.
The latest toll reflects a review of data in Ituri province, the center of the epidemic. The harmonization exercise lifted Ituri’s recorded deaths from 3,436 to 3,750, the ministry’s situation report showed. Before that update, confirmed deaths nationwide had stood at 5,026, with a fatality rate of 48.6%. The ministry said consolidated figures will be presented in the coming days. It added that the exercise is meant to improve the quality of monitoring.
Health officials reported 77 new confirmed cases on October 29. Most were in North Kivu with 45, followed by Ituri with 28, Haut-Uele with 3 and Tshopo with 1. The day’s 34 deaths included 20 people who died in their communities and 14 who died in treatment centers. Meanwhile, 22 patients were discharged after two negative tests. Total recoveries reached 2,788, while 1,101 patients remained in isolation or care.
Eight provinces now hit by the virus
Ituri has recorded 7,346 confirmed cases and 3,750 deaths, or 71% of all infections. North Kivu follows with 2,436 cases and 1,356 deaths, a fatality rate of 55.7%. Haut-Uele has reported 453 cases. The outbreak has reached 67 of the country’s 178 health zones. The eight affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele, Tshopo, Sud-Ubangi and Nord-Ubangi.
The epidemic continues to strain health workers. A total of 270 frontline workers have contracted the virus, mainly in Ituri, North Kivu and Haut-Uele. The WHO has previously warned that staff and funding shortages are slowing the response. Teams were following 37,367 contacts, but only 84.5% were seen within 24 hours, short of the 95% target. About a third of deaths have occurred outside treatment centers, according to the WHO.
Regional spread prompts new travel measures
No approved vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain. In Ituri, frontline workers are being given the Ervebo vaccine with support from Doctors Without Borders, as researchers assess how well it works. The virus has crossed borders, with Kenya confirming nine cases and two deaths and Nigeria one case. From November 3, the US will require international air passengers to confirm they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the previous 21 days.
There are signs of progress in some areas. Twelve health zones have recorded no new confirmed case for at least 42 days. A ministry report for October 30 showed 63 new cases, taking the totals to 10,414 cases and 5,372 deaths. The positivity rate fell to 14.4% from 17.9% a day earlier. The death toll was near 4,900 when cases passed 10,000 last week, and revised Ituri figures are expected soon.