Rate of Ebola infection in DRC rises as health authorities struggle
Efforts are being hampered by insecurity in the region, where militia groups carry out frequent attacks, and through locals' mistrust of health workers
Kinshasa — The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo climbed to 125 as the number of new infections accelerates, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) health ministry said. Authorities in the central African nation are struggling to contain the worst epidemic of the viral illness since it killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. Their efforts are being hampered by insecurity in the region, where dozens of militia groups carry out frequent attacks, and local mistrust of health workers. “Since October, a large increase in the number of new cases has been observed, mainly in Beni,” the ministry said in a statement e-mailed on Thursday from the capital, Kinshasa. Beni is a large town near where the latest outbreak in Congo was identified in August. The World Health Organisation on Thursday called for urgent funding to help curb the disease’s spread. Bloomberg
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.