DR Congo’s Ebola deaths approach 5,000 as Washington tightens travel rules

The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to kill almost half of all those infected, with the official case count now at 10,141 confirmed cases, including 4,928 deaths, CIDRAP reports.

World Health Organization officials say 50 to 80 new cases are being recorded daily across eight affected DRC provinces, with 80% of cases originating outside known transmission chains.

Genomic testing released this week shows recent cases in Nigeria and Kenya share the same genetic lineage as current DRC cases, though it remains unclear how the Nigerian patient, who had visited Uganda from September 15 to October 3, became infected.

The Kenyan index patient travelled through Uganda from the DRC over the same period, with both patients having been at Entebbe airport on October 3. Kenya has confirmed nine cases and two deaths, while no additional cases have been identified in Nigeria.

In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new rule requiring all passengers boarding international flights to the US to attest they have not been in the DRC within the previous 21 days, effective November 3 through December 18.

Travellers who have recently been in the DRC will be barred from boarding US-bound flights, including those transiting through the country.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya warned the outbreak could spread to the UK and other European countries, calling its geographic extension “unprecedented” and urging all continents to raise preparedness and treatment capacity.