At least 930 people have been killed in the Ebola outbreak in Congo, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
The fatalities are among 2,344 confirmed cases reported as of Saturday, the ministry said in an update released overnight into Monday. Officials said 37 deaths were logged in the previous 24 hours, marking one of the outbreak’s highest single-day death tolls.
The outbreak, declared in eastern Congo on May 15, has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
Health officials say the outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo virus, a less common strain that causes Ebola disease. No approved vaccine or treatment is currently available for it.
The sharp rise in deaths comes as security concerns continue to hamper emergency response efforts in Ituri, the province hit hardest by the crisis.
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Authorities said Saturday that at least 12 attacks have targeted health facilities and response teams since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.
The response has also been strained by labor unrest, with many health workers leaving their posts to protest unpaid wages.
At least 36 health workers who contracted the virus have died.
The health ministry 724 patients are currently in isolation and hospitals, adding that it is intensifying response efforts in affected health zones.
