Ebola Outbreak in Congo Intensifies: Concerns Over Possible Mutation

As the confirmed case count of the major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo surpasses 4,000, officials are concerned that the virus may have mutated. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the period of gradual measures has ended and will elevate its response plan to the highest level.The outbreak of the Ebola virus of the Bundibugyo strain was first reported on May 15, but it is suspected that the disease may have been spreading since January. According to the data from the DRC National Institute of Public Health, as of August 4, 3,973 cases and 1,801 deaths were recorded.Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya confirmed that the number of cases has exceeded 4,000 and stated that he discussed the matter with World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and planned research to investigate whether the virus has mutated.More than two-thirds of Ebola-related deaths occur in the community rather than in treatment centers. In a treatment center operated by Doctors Without Borders in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, it was found that 90% of admitted patients were not on the authorities' contact lists.