Over 8,000 Ebola cases – nearly 4,000 deaths

 

TT-AP

 

Published at 17:15

 

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is beginning to have a significant impact on large parts of society. File photo. Photo: Sebastien Kitsa Musayi/AP/TT

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 8,000. Of these, just over 3,900 have resulted in death.

The high mortality rate "highlights the severity of the disease and the persistent challenges regarding the timely detection of cases and access to early, adequate care," the World Health Organization (WHO) writes in its latest situation report.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Monday that the outbreak has begun to have widespread consequences in the hardest-hit communities as resources are diverted to the fight against Ebola.

"The outbreak's indirect effects stem from both reduced access to healthcare—due to the strain on staff and operations—and reduced demand, as fear of infection and isolation deters people from seeking care," OCHA writes.