Nearly 500 dead as Ebola outbreak spreads in DR Congo

Nineteen additional Ebola-related deaths were recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past 24 hours, raising the total death toll to 492, the country’s ministry of communication and media said in a daily bulletin.

Confirmed Ebola cases currently stand at 1,528, with 26 new infections added over the past day, TASS reports.

The outbreak began in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15. Ebola cases and fatalities have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Ebola virus disease as "a severe, often fatal illness in humans," with an average case fatality rate of approximately 32.2%.

Symptoms typically start with sudden fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, and impaired kidney and liver function, with some cases also involving internal and external bleeding. The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, and tissues of infected animals or humans.

Individuals remain contagious as long as their blood and secretions carry the virus. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days. During outbreaks, those most at risk include healthcare workers, family members, and others in close contact with infected patients or deceased individuals.

By Jeyhun Aghazada