DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 7,000 cases

More than 7,000 Ebola cases have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in what authorities say is the country’s worst outbreak of the deadly disease.

The outbreak was first detected in mid-May in Ituri province and has since spread to other areas, according to health authorities.

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Most of the cases have been reported in Ituri, where Ebola has also been detected in schools following the return of students after the summer break.

Health authorities are working to contain the outbreak through surveillance, testing, vaccination and treatment of infected people and their contacts.

Ebola can cause severe fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in serious cases, internal and external bleeding. It can spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected people.

The latest outbreak has raised concerns about the ability of health authorities to contain the disease, particularly in areas where access to healthcare remains difficult.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced several Ebola outbreaks over the years, but the current outbreak has become the largest ever recorded in the country.