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The presence of Ebola in the DRC remains a constant threat after the great epidemic of 2014, which claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Since the last crisis, the country's health authorities have been very effective in setting boundaries and promoting public health. As a result, the Ebola virus has been relatively under control in recent years and mainly confined to the country of Central Africa. However, the Ebola virus is now crossing borders and infecting unprecedented layers of the population.
What is Ebola?
Ebola – officially known as Ebola (Ebola) – is one of the most dangerous diseases in the world and has been discovered in the DRC.
The disease has been observed for the first time in the Ebola River in the republic, and experts still do not know exactly where it comes from.
Ebola is a virus of animal origin that can rapidly drift into human environments and spread quickly, with a 60% mortality rate.
Animals carrying the virus are mainly bats, which can transmit it to other animals, such as great apes, which then transmit it to humans through close contact.
READ MORE: WHO holds emergency meeting in case of spread of epidemic
According to the US-based Center for Disease Control, symptoms of the Ebola virus include:
– Fever
– Severe headaches
– Muscle pain
– Weakness
– tired
– Diarrhea
– Vomiting
– abdominal pain (stomach)
– Unexplained haemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
Those who are able to recover from the virus may suffer from fatigue and pain shortly after healing, and the virus may exist in trace amounts in the body for a decade later.
Why is this year's epidemic worse than before?
The DRC is regularly confronted with epidemics of Ebola virus, but this year proved to be much harder to fight.
The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri of the region were the main areas of infection this year, with a total of 373 suspected cases.
So far, 347 of these cases have been confirmed and 217 people have been killed by the virus.
Transmission was also noted in neonates, with seven confirmed cases that would be transmitted by their mother's bodily fluids, such as breast milk.
The demographics of North Kivu and Ituri are mainly responsible for the rapid spread and difficult confinement of the disease.
READ MORE: Ebola prepares "perfect storm" in Congo
Both regions are densely populated and their inhabitants are mobile and often move to other parts of the country.
North Kivu is particularly the scene of political upheaval at the moment, with armed groups such as the Allied Defense Forces (ADF) pushing refugees into and out of the region.
Clashes prevent health officials from doing vital work and traditional healers take precedence over vaccination efforts.
Jessica Ilunga, communication officer at the DRC's Ministry of Public Health, told Al Jazeera: "The predominance of traditional healers, who have more faith in the population than modern medicine, has also resulted in a significant number of nosocomial transmissions. (hospitable). "
These factors have made it difficult for health officials to control and prevent the epidemic, as many people do not want to accept vaccination.
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