KATHMANDU: The death toll from the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached 4,381. Health officials reported that more than 9,000 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
According to the latest data released on Tuesday, the total number of infections has risen to 9,066. The fatality rate among those infected stands at 48.3 percent. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, has affected 65 health zones across seven provinces in the country.
The eastern province of Ituri has emerged as the epicenter of the crisis, accounting for more than 70 percent of all confirmed cases. Currently, there is no specifically approved vaccine or treatment available for this particular strain of the virus. However, medical trials aimed at finding a cure are ongoing.
This is the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the epidemic that struck West Africa between 2014 and 2016. Globally, this remains the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
