Ebola virus outbreak: Death toll hits 42

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that at least 42 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo following a new outbreak of the Ebola virus.

According to the UN health agency, 64 cases have been recorded since the outbreak was declared in early September, with the Zaire strain of the virus identified as the cause. WHO estimates the current fatality rate at 45.7 percent.

In response, Congolese health authorities have rolled out a vaccination programme in the central province of Kasai, where the resurgence was first reported. The International Coordination Group on Vaccine Supply has also approved the shipment of 45,000 additional doses to support the effort.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the figures in a post on X, stressing that while the risk of further spread is considered high at the national level, it remains moderate across the wider region.

The agency, however, warned that the outbreak is being fuelled by challenges such as insufficient protective equipment, incomplete contact tracing, late detection of cases, and unsafe burial practices. High population mobility and reliance on traditional healers have also increased the risk of transmission.

Ebola, first identified in 1976 and believed to have originated from bats, is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. It causes severe bleeding, organ failure, and in many cases, death.

The DRC has faced multiple outbreaks of the disease, with the deadliest between 2018 and 2020 claiming nearly 2,300 lives.