DRC Reports 80 Deaths in New Ebola Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported 80 deaths in a new Ebola outbreak attributed to the Bundibugyo strain, which has a lethality rate of 50%. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba announced the rising death toll during a press briefing in Kinshasa on Saturday, with the initial report indicating 65 deaths.

The outbreak, which began in Ituri Province near the Ugandan border, poses a significant risk of cross-border transmission, particularly as a 59-year-old man from DRC was admitted to a health facility in Kampala, Uganda, earlier in the week. The World Health Organization has noted that the Bundibugyo strain was first identified in 2007, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available.

The outbreak marks the 17th occurrence of Ebola in the DRC, with health officials expressing concern over the potential for widespread transmission due to the high fatality rate and the nature of the disease, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.