The official death toll in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo now exceeds more than 400, according to official figures released on Thursday.
The highly infectious disease has claimed 438 lives among the 1,406 people confirmed infected – a fatality rate of just over 31% – since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) said in its latest report.
A first case was also recently reported in the major northeastern city of Kisangani, nearly 600 kilometres from the epicentre of the crisis.
A test on the body of a 24-year-old pregnant woman was positive for Ebola, the INSP said.
Yet to get vaccine
The outbreak has been caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus for which no vaccine or specific treatment exists. Clinical trials are due to begin.
The centre of the outbreak – whose true scale is hard to assess – was in the northeastern Ituri province, where more than 83% of deaths have occurred. The province borders Uganda and South Sudan.
The virus has also spread to the neighbouring provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
Ebola, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.
