UPDATE: Some media sources are quoting a much higher death toll (see Ebola outbreak 'kills 32' in DR Congo since May) than is being reported below by the WHO.
Today Sharon Sanders of FluTrackers contracted Gregory Hartl at the World Health Organization for clarification. He explained that suspected cases are not counted in their report, and the current number of fatalities remains at 19.
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The World Health Organization has posted an update on the Ebola outbreak ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, indicating an increase of 5 confirmed cases since their last update.
Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo – update
18 September 2012 - As of 15 September 2012, 46 cases (14 laboratory confirmed, 32 probable) with Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Of these 19 have been fatal (6 confirmed, 13 probable).
The cases reported are from two health zones of Isiro and Viadana in Haut-Uélé district in Province Orientale. Additionally, 26 suspected cases have been reported and are being investigated.
The MoH continues to work with partners to control the outbreak. Active epidemiological investigation is being done to identify all possible chains of transmission of the illness, and ensure that appropriate measures are immediately taken to interrupt the transmission, and stop the outbreak.
This morning the WHO has also provided brief updates via their Twitter account @WHO.
Whenever an outbreak of a hemorrhagic virus occurs somewhere in the world, we are fascinated by its vivid imagery, and its feared potential. Thus far, the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (which include Ebola, Marburg & Lassa) has been limited.
These viruses strike quickly, with profound and debilitating symptoms, and that helps to limit human-to-human spread.
In terms of numbers affected, the worst known outbreak occurred in Uganda in 2000-2001, with 425 cases and 224 deaths (cite).
The risks of this virus spreading beyond the endemic areas of central Africa are considered low (see ECDC Risk Assessment), but as Maryn Mckenna wrote in her blog Lassa fever: Coming to an airport near you - with our increasingly mobile population - opportunities for exotic tropical diseases like Ebola to hop on an airplane are increasing.
The World Health Organization maintains an Ebola FAQ Sheet, where you will find more information on the disease:
Ebola haemorrhagic fever
Fact sheet N°103
August 2012
Key facts
- The Ebola virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks in humans.
- Viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.
- Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
- The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
- Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.
- There is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals.
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