'Ebola has tortured us': Fear grips eastern DR Congo as deadly virus spreads
Ebola spreads in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the suspected number of deaths continues to rise. Officials say they are struggling to catch up to an outbreak that may have previously been spreading undetected. As of Tuesday, there were 514 suspected cases, with 136 people believed to have died from the virus. One person has also died in neighboring Uganda.
The outbreak has been caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Congolese Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba acknowledged health teams are playing catch-up with the virus, which may have been circulating earlier than first detected on 24 April. Dr. Kamba explained the symptoms: "There is heavy bleeding everywhere, very high fever. But Bundibugyo can show fewer obvious signs, which delays diagnosis because people think, 'No, this is just malaria.'" International charity Save the Children said the Bundibugyo strain has not been seen in Ituri before.
Cases have also been identified in Butembo city and rebel-controlled Goma in North Kivu province, as well as in South Kivu province. Formal community alerts were only registered from 8 May.
Quick Summary
A deadly Ebola outbreak has sparked fear in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the number of suspected deaths rises- health officials are struggling to contain the spread. The outbreak may have been spreading undetected, raising concerns about the ability to control it.
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