▲ An Ebola treatment center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The spread of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues, with the death toll rising significantly.
On the 18th (local time), the DRC Ministry of Communication and Media announced that as of the 16th, the number of confirmed Ebola cases had reached 2,181, an increase of 56 from the previous day.
The death toll stands at 864, having increased by 110 over the past three days.
The fatality rate rose to 39.6%, up 2.1 percentage points from 37.5% three days ago.
While 412 people have been declared recovered, concerns are growing as the contact tracing rate for those who have been in contact with confirmed patients has dropped to 66.9%.
The current strain of Ebola, the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, is characterized by a slower onset of symptoms compared to the Zaire ebolavirus that circulated previously.
Assistant Professor Cory Levine of the University of Texas Medical Branch and other experts noted that because the Bundibugyo strain replicates much more slowly, infected patients experience a slower onset of symptoms, allowing them to continue moving around and spreading the virus.
However, some analysts suggest that because the replication is slower, the chances of survival could be higher if the virus is detected and treated early, before it progresses to septic shock or multiple organ failure.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance at the World Health Organization (WHO), stated, "Patients who receive early treatment are 3 to 4 times more likely to survive than those who remain in the community."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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