Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 5,372 Ebola deaths among 10,414 confirmed cases as of October 30, putting the outbreak’s death rate at 51.6% after a review added deaths that had not been counted.
The revised toll reflects a review of records, not a sudden rise in deaths. Officials added 314 earlier deaths in Ituri province after reviewing records from 97% of affected health zones there. The adjustment raised the reported death rate from 48.6% two days earlier.
Confirmed cases rose by 140. The outbreak has spread across eight provinces and 67 health zones. Dozens of new infections are still being reported.
Africa CDC has said roughly 80% of new cases are appearing outside known chains of infection. This makes it harder to find people who may have been exposed and separate them from others. The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus.
The World Health Organization says there is no specific vaccine or treatment for this strain. Care can still address patients’ symptoms. Ebola cases have also been reported in other countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.
The reports highlight the need to keep monitoring across borders.