Congo Faces Rising Death Toll as Ebola Outbreak Intensifies in Ituri Province
The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with a severe Ebola outbreak in its eastern province of Ituri, with at least 80 deaths reported. The outbreak, which was first announced with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases, has seen a rapid increase in fatalities. Health workers are intensifying efforts to screen and trace contacts to contain the disease. The Bundibugyo virus, a variant of Ebola, has been identified in this outbreak, marking Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus first emerged in 1976. The suspected index case is a nurse who died in Bunia, the capital of Ituri. The outbreak has also affected neighboring Uganda, where a case was confirmed and the patient subsequently died. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expressed concern over the potential spread to nearby regions, including Uganda and South Sudan. 
