DRC Health Ministry: Ebola death toll reaches 4561

According to the ministry, the mortality rate is 48.2%. The situation is most severe in the Ituri province, where 73.2% of all registered infections and 67.5% of new cases have been recorded. The virus has been detected in 66 out of 178 medical zones across eight provinces, with 269 medical workers among those infected. These figures were cited by TASS.

The outbreak began on May 15 in both the DRC and Uganda. Uganda declared the end of the epidemic on its territory on July 28, which was confirmed by the WHO on August 25. In Kenya, the first case was confirmed on October 6: a citizen of the country who had previously lived in the DRC fell ill. He had arrived in Nairobi via Uganda on October 3 and died on October 5. By October 19, eight cases had been registered in Kenya (seven, according to WHO data cited by Naked Science).

As reported by Naked Science, the outbreak was caused by a rare strain of the "Bundibugyo" virus, for which there are currently no officially approved vaccines or specific medications. According to the publication, the authorities of the neighboring province of North Kivu closed entry to people from Ituri for a week, limited the number of passengers in cars and mototaxis, and suspended the operation of nightclubs, sports competitions, and political rallies.