Fear has gripped Ebola-hit areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the suspected number of deaths continues to rise, as officials say they are struggling to catch up to an outbreak that may have previously been spreading undetected. Ebola has tortured us, says a taxi rider in his late twenties in the gold-mining town of Rwampara. I am scared because people are dying very fast... We are really afraid.
Following a visit to Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, over the weekend, Congolese Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba acknowledged health teams are playing catch-up with the virus, which may have been circulating earlier than first detected on 24 April.
Most of the suspected cases and deaths have been reported in Mongwalu and neighbouring Rwampara. On Tuesday, there were 514 suspected cases, with 136 believed to have succumbed to the virus. Community fear is heightened as the outbreak spreads into urban areas, surpassing previously known outbreaks such as Bundibugyo. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned the outbreak could jeopardize already fragile local health systems further challenged by regional conflicts.
Following a visit to Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, over the weekend, Congolese Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba acknowledged health teams are playing catch-up with the virus, which may have been circulating earlier than first detected on 24 April.
Most of the suspected cases and deaths have been reported in Mongwalu and neighbouring Rwampara. On Tuesday, there were 514 suspected cases, with 136 believed to have succumbed to the virus. Community fear is heightened as the outbreak spreads into urban areas, surpassing previously known outbreaks such as Bundibugyo. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned the outbreak could jeopardize already fragile local health systems further challenged by regional conflicts.
