The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has killed more than 1,500 people, according to new government data released on Thursday. The update reported 3,442 cases and 1,521 deaths, marking a 50% increase in fatalities over the past week.

Authorities continue to struggle to contain the virus in the eastern part of the country, where decades of conflict with rebel groups have weakened government control and infrastructure. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) noted that the sharp rise partly reflects a backlog of unconfirmed cases and deaths.

The lack of a proven vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, the rarest of four Ebola variants affecting humans, and active hostilities in the region have allowed the virus to spread rapidly. Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya said 63% of confirmed deaths in the last two weeks occurred outside treatment centers, often due to unsafe handling of infected bodies.

In Ituri province's Nyakunde health zone, international partners temporarily relocated after a July 15 attack on a hospital and treatment center, triggered by a patient's death. This disrupted surveillance, contact tracing, and supplies. Healthcare workers in Ituri also went on strike earlier this month over unpaid wages and unsafe conditions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the risk of global spread remains low as Ebola is not airborne. Neighboring Uganda declared itself Ebola-free on Tuesday after discharging its last patient in mid-June.

Source: www.aljazeera.com