The second-worst Ebola outbreak in history is showing no signs of slowing in the Democratic Republic of Congo after six months, reports ABC News.
Three updates on the outbreak:
1. The outbreak hit the six-month mark Feb. 1. As of Jan. 31, health officials reported 759 confirmed and probable Ebola cases, along with 468 deaths. Another 178 cases are still under investigation, and 259 people have been cured.
2. Health workers have vaccinated 70,611 people in the Congo against Ebola since August, reports CIDRAP News. Neighboring countries like Uganda and South Sudan have also vaccinated health workers in case the outbreak spreads across borders.
3. Identifying and testing individuals who've been exposed to confirmed Ebola patients is still proving difficult for healthcare workers. On Jan. 20, two known contacts of an Ebola patient snuck into Uganda. The contacts, a man and a woman, displayed no symptoms but were under daily surveillance from health workers.
"Luckily, their disappearance and movement to Uganda were promptly detected and reported by colleagues in DRC — thanks to the excellent cross-border collaboration," the WHO said in a Jan. 31 update. The contacts did not demonstrate any signs of Ebola when they were located in Uganda.
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