Deaths from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo have passed 700, and 80% of new cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track, according to WHO and reporting by NPR.
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Key facts
- Deaths from the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo have passed 700, according to NPR.
- Eighty percent of new cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, according to WHO.
- WHO says the figure is a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track.
- The outbreak is centred in eastern Congo.
Ebola is spreading faster than health officials can track in eastern Congo, according to reporting by NPR, as the death toll from the outbreak passes 700.
The World Health Organization says 80% of new Ebola cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, which it describes as a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track.
NPR’s report does not detail the specific locations affected within eastern Congo, the timeframe over which the deaths have accumulated, or the measures being taken in response.
Why it matters
Ebola is a severe and often deadly disease. According to WHO, the high share of cases from unknown transmission chains is a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track, which raises the risk of continued transmission and a rising death toll.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have died in the eastern Congo Ebola outbreak?
According to NPR, deaths from the outbreak have passed 700.
Why are officials struggling to track the outbreak?
WHO says 80% of new cases are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, meaning health workers cannot identify how patients became infected, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than it can be tracked.
Where is the outbreak happening?
The outbreak is centered in eastern Congo.
Timeline
- WHO: Ebola spreading faster than ever recorded in DR Congo
Al Jazeera: The World Health Organization warns the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is spreading faster than any previous outbreak.
- Ebola is spreading faster in eastern Congo than it can be tracked, as deaths pass 700
NPR News: Eighty percent of new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, according to WHO, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track.