Congo:Ebola caseload tops 4,000, WHO pleads for more support

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 4,053, including 1,850 deaths, according to an update released Thursday by the country's health authorities. A total of 694 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 793 people have recovered. International medical humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres warned Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC is "more critical than ever," spreading at an alarming and unprecedented pace with "no sign of slowing down."
In Ituri, the outbreak's epicentre, families said many frontline workers have gone on strike, worsening access to healthcare that was already challenged by rebel conflict in one of Congo's most remote and vulnerable areas, its east near the borders of South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. While some frontline workers say they have started receiving payment in the last week for work done since the outbreak began, they are demanding improved wages.
WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visits Congo to support Ebola efforts as some workers strike over pay. He was Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with partners and President Felix Tshisekedi in capital, Kinshasa.It was his second visit since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. The World Health Organization has called for more support across the board to combat the Ebola outbreak raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is still outpacing response efforts. The outbreak is the biggest ever to have hit the DR Congo, despite being declared less than three months ago. "The outbreak is unfortunately still expanding beyond the capacity of the response," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva. A viral haemorrhagic fever, Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids. The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri.