Ebola outbreak

WHO warns: The undercount in Congo is likely high

Around 160 people have died and 671 have been infected in the latest Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa, according to government figures on Thursday. But according to the World Health Organization, the number of dead and infected is most likely significantly higher than that, writes AP.

The head of Africa's infectious disease control agency, Jean Kaseya, says he expects the number of cases to increase as surveillance grows in scope.

- We are still in a phase where we are intensifying the investigation and searching for cases.

The variant of Ebola that is spreading in Congo-Kinshasa lacks both a vaccine and treatment. Armed conflicts and a poorly built infrastructure are making it difficult to limit the spread. 

The condition of an American infected with Ebola is stable

The American citizen being treated for Ebola is very weak but his condition is not critical. This is stated by the hospital in Berlin where the man is being treated, writes Reuters.

“Since the course of the disease can change, he is still being kept under close observation,” the hospital writes in a statement.

The infected man worked as a doctor with Ebola patients in Congo-Kinshasa. According to government figures on Thursday, around 160 people have so far been confirmed dead and nearly 700 infected in the new outbreak, but the hidden number is believed to be large.   

The Ebola outbreak — it matters

• A new Ebola outbreak broke out in May in Ituri province in eastern Congo-Kinshasa, with the mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara as the epicenter.
• The Bundibugyo variant, which has no vaccine or treatment, caused the outbreak and has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent.
• The infection spread to neighboring Uganda, where two cases and at least one death were reported, and a US citizen was confirmed infected after working in Congo-Kinshasa. 
• The WHO declared an international emergency on 17 May and sent experts and equipment to the area to assist local authorities.