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EPA
The Ebola epidemic in the DRC is the second worst in history
More than 2,000 cases of Ebola have been registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 10 months, officials said.
Two-thirds of the cases were fatal, added the Ministry of Health.
The epidemic in eastern DR Congo is the second most important in history, with a significant increase in the number of new cases noted in recent weeks.
But the efforts of health workers to contain the epidemic have been hampered by mistrust and violence.
Despite the fact that more than 1,300 people have died of the disease since the month of August, the charity Oxfam says its teams meet every day with people who still do not believe the virus exists, reports Will Ross, editor of the BBC for Africa.
- Disbelief in Ebola is widespread in Congo's hotspots
- Why Ebola keeps coming back
Others do not trust health workers, forcing people with symptoms to avoid treatments, making it more difficult to stop the spread of the virus.
Currently, it is contained in two provinces, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to monitor the spread of the virus due to violence in the eastern region of the country.
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Between January and May, there were more than 40 attacks on health facilities. However, epidemics of violence have decreased in recent weeks.
The World Health Organization said the risk of global spread was low, but it was very likely that cases would spread to neighboring countries.
Most Ebola outbreaks are quickly over and affect a small number of people. Only one time before, an epidemic was developing even more than eight months after its beginning – it was the epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, which claimed the lives of 11 people. 310 people.
What is Ebola?
- Ebola is a virus that initially causes sudden fever, severe weakness, muscle aches and sore throat.
- It develops into vomiting, diarrhea and internal and external bleeding.
- A person is infected when she has direct contact, through a broken skin, or mouth and nose, with blood, vomit, stool or body fluids. a person with Ebola.
- Patients tend to die from dehydration and organic insufficiency.
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