Ebola cases rise in Congo... Health Ministry goes on strike

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Health announced that at least 930 people have died from an Ebola outbreak in the country.

In a statement reported by The Associated Press (AP) today, the ministry said the deaths were among 2,344 confirmed cases as of last Saturday, adding that 37 new fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours, marking one of the highest daily death tolls since the outbreak began.

The Ebola outbreak, declared in eastern Congo on May 15, is the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic ever recorded.

The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus is less common than other strains that cause the disease, and there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for it.

Authorities said last Saturday that at least 12 attacks targeting health facilities and teams have been recorded since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.

Meanwhile, a large number of health sector workers have gone on strike to protest non-payment of their salaries, amid the deaths of at least 36 health workers from the virus.

The Ministry of Health stated that 724 patients are currently in isolation or receiving treatment in hospitals, and confirmed that it is working to intensify response efforts in affected health zones.