Congo’s Ebola outbreak spreads as cases double

Key takeaways:

The outbreak has spread within Kasai province, raising fears of cross-border spillover into Angola.

Foreign aid cuts have likely limited the U.S.’s participation in the response.

An Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has doubled in size and spread in the province where it started, raising fears of cross-border spillover into neighboring Angola, a health official said.

The outbreak likely spread undetected before the first cases were confirmed as family members traveled to the impacted area for funerals and then returned home, the official said. People who die from Ebola remain infectious after their death, and burial practices that involve touching and handling bodies often lead to further transmission .

Data derived from WHO.

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