'Massive Loss Of Life' In Congo As Ebola And Measles Hit

"Massive Loss Of Life": 3,500 Deaths As Simultaneous Ebola & Measles Outbreaks Hit Congo

World Health Organization (WHO) officials released new staggering numbers this week on the death toll from central Africa's latest deadly Ebola virus outbreak. 

Confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to 1,536 since the outbreak began there a little under a year ago. And by July 7, a total of 2,418 what are deemed confirmed and probable cases have been reported, Bloomberg said, citing the WHO's latest report on the outbreak.“While the number of new cases continues to ease in former hot spots, such as Butembo, Katwa and Mandima health zones, there has been an increase in cases in Beni and a high incidence continues in parts of Mabalako health zone,” according to the report.

The report further noted that in parts of the DRC the "Ebola outbreak continues this past week with a similar transmission intensity," suggesting while it's still largely contained within the country's borders, the outbreak is still going strong despite emergency interventions. 

"The Ministry of Health (MoH) and other national authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, WHO, and partners are implementing several outbreak control interventions together with teams in the surrounding provinces, who are taking measures to ensure that they are response-ready," the report continued. 

Compounding the Ebola crisis further is the simultaneous accelerating measles outbreak raging through the country, resulting an an urgent measles vaccination campaign in Ebola-hit regions. A stunning almost 2,000 people have died from the preventable disease in the DRC this year, the vast majority children under five. 

“The combined threat of Ebola and measles for the thousands of families living in overcrowded and unsanitary displacement camps is unprecedented,” Unicef DRC spokesman Edouard Beigbeder told The Guardian. “We have a small window to prevent a potentially massive loss of life.”

UN humanitarian response staff are calling the simultaneous deadly outbreaks "unprecedented" as The Guardian reports:

At least 1,981 people died from measles in DRC this year, surpassing the 1,641 deaths from Ebola, according to the UN children’s agency, Unicef. The “unprecedented” humanitarian crisis is putting the health system under strain, UN staff said.

...Nearly 115,000 cases of suspected measles have been reported for the six months to 23 June, almost double the number recorded for the whole of 2018.