An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading at an alarming rate with 1,000 reported cases.
Medair Canada reports the breakout is the second-worst documented since 2014 when the disease killed approximately 11,000 people throughout West Africa.
The outbreak reportedly began in Nord Kivu and Ituri provinces, which are located in the northeastern part of the country.
There are currently over 1,000 known cases, a number which has shaken many health officials who have reported it's the most disastrous health threat in the country's history.
“If transmission of the disease does not end soon, it could spark the collapse of an already very fragile health system," said Medair's Country Director Thomas Simo, an international NGO veteran in the country.
Still, Reuters reports the past two weeks have seen a record high of new cases. Earlier this year, progress was spotted when weekly case numbers dropped in half to 25; however, last week a record 72 cases were recorded. Mixed with militia violence and community fears, affected areas are fearful of an irreversible plague. In the past two months, Ebola centers have been targeted by militiamen, torched and burnt down, causing two of the most prominent treatment areas to be closed.
The virus has been causing chaos among locals, and that fear mixed with misinformation has added to its deadly spread. Last September, a medical journal survey revealed that nearly a fourth of the nation's citizens did not believe the health threat was real. It is reported that the Ministry of Health has combatted these issues with seven months of consistent efforts, including continuous vaccinations and grassroots efforts to educate the public.
In a press release from the nation's director of disease control on Sunday, a possible 1,089 cases were reported since the beginning of the epidemic last August, with 1,023 of those cases confirmed. Of these persons, 679 have died (613 confirmed from the disease and 66 probable causes). The number of those confirmed cured of the epidemic is 331.
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The release explains probable deaths are related to cases where health officials were unable to collect biological samples to confirm the cause, but reported ailments and information related to the case links the death to Ebola.
The report states that 180 people are suspected to have Ebola at this time and remain under investigation. Seven new cases have also been confirmed, including a health worker, with three new deaths.
Another cause for concern: over half of all deaths last week did not occur in treatment centers but among locals, elevating the possibility of a more rampant spread.
“The virus, which is transmitted through bodily fluids once a person starts to have symptoms, is often mistaken for malaria or cholera because of similar symptoms, causing people not to worry until it is often too late,” Thomas said. “Also, many people believe that if they are taken to an Ebola Centre they will never come out."
"The fact is that the centers are the only available source of help and possible healing from the disease and the survival rate of people being admitted is higher than the West Africa Ebola outbreak," he continued. "We have new medications which can help to treat the disease, but the patients need to come in early and start the treatment."
Any person who has been in contact with a confirmed or suspected Ebola patient are encouraged to enter one of the centers for monitoring so that the disease can be caught early.
Community leaders and activist groups have reportedly been emphasizing the importance of screenings, vaccinations and proper hand-washing techniques to limit the country's spread of the disease. These new approaches have led to great progress among locals, with many allowing health workers to access their homes and conduct necessary tests.
Overall, most travelers to the country have a low risk of being infected unless they're expected to travel to the infected areas.
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