• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Africa

Ebola death toll tops 700 in DR Congo

6 April 2019, 1:56 PM  |
AFP AFP |  @SABCNews
Health workers carry the body of an Ebola victim for burial at a cemetery in Freetown.

The World Health Organization has warned that "the risk of national and regional spread remains very high" and said dealing with the epidemic could take another six months.

Health workers carry the body of an Ebola victim for burial at a cemetery in Freetown.

Image: Reuters

The World Health Organization has warned that "the risk of national and regional spread remains very high" and said dealing with the epidemic could take another six months.

Some 100 people have died in the Ebola epidemic in DR Congo over the past three weeks, taking the overall death toll in the latest outbreak past 700, according to health ministry data.

Local people are now at least receiving vaccines on a large scale for the first time with more than 95,000 getting a dose of the rVSV-Zebov vaccine from Merck laboratories.

The health ministry said this had enabled thousands of lives to be saved.

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August in northeastern North Kivu province before it spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.

The current outbreak is the second worst to date, the deadliest being a 2014 epidemic in West Africa which killed more than 10,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“Since the start of the epidemic, overall cases are 1,117 — 1,051 confirmed and 66 probable. In total there are 702 deaths (636 confirmed and 66 probable) and 339 people who have recovered,” the ministry said, quoting data up to Thursday.

The ministry added late Friday that another 295 suspected cases were being examined.

The World Health Organization has warned that “the risk of national and regional spread remains very high” and said dealing with the epidemic could take another six months.

Poor security owing to the presence of several armed groups, coupled with resistance of some communities to seeking treatment, has hampered the fight to stem the spread of the disease.

A recent study in the central Congolese cities of Beni and Butembo found only third trusted local authorities to help them and more than a quarter believed Ebola does not exist.

Share article
Tags: LiberiaWest AfricaDR CongoWorld Health OrganizationGuineaSierra LeoneEbola epidemicMerck laboratories
Previous Post

AIC to embark on election campaign in KZN informal settlements

Next Post

Ramaphosa promises QwaQwa community SIU will uncover Municipality collapse

Related Posts

Women from the Samburu tribe wait for a food destination given due to an ongoing drought, in the town of Oldonyiro, Isiolo county, Kenya, October 8, 2021

Cost of living and drought hang over Kenya’s poll

8 August 2022, 3:24 PM
Banners of Kenya's opposition leader and presidential candidate Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) coalition(R), and Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto and presidential candidate for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza political coalition, are seen at the road side in Nairobi, Kenya, July 25, 2022.

EXPLAINER – What is at stake for investors in Kenya’s elections?

8 August 2022, 10:03 AM
Members of the Amhara Special Force return to the Dansha Mechanized 5th division Military base after fighting against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in Danasha, Amhara region near a border with Tigray, Ethiopia November 9, 2020.

Suspected militants kill 20 in east Congo village attacks

8 August 2022, 4:03 AM
Image: @SecBlinken, Twitter

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken waves as he leaves a flight

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in South Africa and visits Hector Petersen`s memorial site in Soweto

7 August 2022, 5:40 PM
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks speaks during a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the State Department in Washington, US, February 4, 2021.

US State Secretary arrives in SA as part of African tour

7 August 2022, 2:00 PM
Alassane Ouattara

Ivory Coast president pardons predecessor Gbagbo to boost “social cohesion”

7 August 2022, 7:51 AM
Next Post
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed hundreds of residents at Phuthaditjhaba during an ANC election campaign.

Ramaphosa promises QwaQwa community SIU will uncover Municipality collapse

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Transnet seizes assets worth more than R20 million from employees
  • Godrich Gardee accuses Eswatini King of orchestrating his daughter’s murder
  • SA government responds to damning statement made by Eswatini spokesperson
  • Mabuyane confirms receipt of eNyobeni Tavern victims’ results
  • Major crash involving several vehicles on N3 to KZN
  • Ramaphosa given 48 hours to step aside
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Actress Busisiwe Lurayi has passed away
  • Miss SA Lalela Mswane crowned Miss Supranational 2022
  • EFF’s planned national shutdown won’t be an ordinary one: Malema

LATEST

Gauteng ANC Chair David Makhura's picture
  • Politics

DA in Gauteng plans to table a motion of no confidence against Premier Makhura


Women from the Samburu tribe wait for a food destination given due to an ongoing drought, in the town of Oldonyiro, Isiolo county, Kenya, October 8, 2021
  • Africa

Cost of living and drought hang over Kenya’s poll


Palestinians celebrate on a street after a ceasefire was announced, in Gaza City August 8, 2022.
  • World

UN to convene emergency session over developments in Gaza Strip


  • South Africa

VIDEO | South Africa hosts US Secretary of State Antony Blinken


Workers seen fixing potholes in South Africa at the Operation Vala Zonke campaign launch.
  • Potholes repair focus
  • South Africa

Transport Department will work with municipalities to fix the potholes: Mbalula


EFF members hold a candle light ceremony for Hillary Gardee.
  • South Africa

Hillary Gardee murder case postponed to next week


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous AIC to embark on election campaign in KZN informal settlements
Next Ramaphosa promises QwaQwa community SIU will uncover Municipality collapse