WHO says 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths from Bundibugyo strain of Ebola
By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, May 29 (Reuters) – “There are 906 suspected cases of Ebola, including 223 suspected deaths, under investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the World Health Organization said on Friday.
An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and cases are also reported in Uganda.
There are 125 confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including 17 confirmed deaths in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. There have also been seven confirmed cases of Ebola in Uganda, three of which were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one death. However, WHO said no community transmission had been reported.
Anais Legand of the High Threat Pathogens Team, part of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said the death rate among those confirmed to have been infected ranged from 30 percent to 50 percent.
“This is huge. This means that five out of 10 people are likely to die,” Legand said, but added that the data was preliminary and required further research. Early care can help reduce death rates, Legand said.
The World Health Organization said there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Madeline Chambers)
