The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced significant concern regarding the alarming acceleration of the Ebola virus outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the number of suspected cases has surpassed 500, with approximately 130 potential deaths recorded since the onset of this new outbreak. These figures represent a notable increase compared to around 200 infections and 65 deaths reported at the official announcement of the epidemic last Friday.
The majority of the disease's spread is concentrated in Ituri Province in eastern Congo, a region plagued by armed conflicts and severe weaknesses in health infrastructure. Officials from the International Rescue Committee have warned that the current figures may only represent the tip of the iceberg, amid fears of the infection spreading to South Sudan through the open borders between the two countries.
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Dr. Mesfin Teklu Tessema, the health director at the International Rescue Committee, confirmed that health facilities in the region are facing a severe shortage of essential protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and goggles, which increases the risk of transmission among healthcare workers and patients. He explained that the