Kinshasa: The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has become the world’s second-largest on record, with the number of reported cases rising to 3,532 and the death toll reaching 1,556, according to government figures.
The country’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the virus has spread across several areas in eastern Congo. Surveillance and epidemiological investigations have detected transmission in a number of eastern provinces, prompting authorities to intensify containment measures.
Medical teams are working in affected communities to identify cases, prevent further transmission and contain the outbreak. Authorities have also stepped up vaccination campaigns targeting residents in high-risk areas.
Despite these measures, the virus continues to spread rapidly, with transmission reportedly outpacing containment efforts.
Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, described the crisis as the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic seen to date and called for greater international attention to the worsening situation.
Health authorities are continuing surveillance, vaccination and other emergency measures as they attempt to bring the outbreak under control and prevent further infections.
