Congo’s Ebola outbreak slows at epicentre but widens elsewhere, modelling suggests

**Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo slows at epicentre but spreads to other regions, modelling indicates**

A recent analysis of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) shows a reduction in new cases at the outbreak’s epicentre, while the disease is expanding into other parts of the country. The modelling, published by *The Telegraph*, suggests that the epidemic is still on track to surpass the 2014 West African outbreak in size, potentially becoming the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

The study, which used epidemiological data from the DRC’s Ministry of Health and international health agencies, found that the number of confirmed cases in the epicentre—primarily the city of Goma and surrounding areas—has begun to decline. However, the model indicates that transmission is increasing in more remote provinces, raising concerns about the potential for further spread.

According to the report, the overall trajectory of the outbreak remains steep, with projections indicating that cumulative case numbers could exceed those of the 2014 epidemic that affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The modelling team cautions that continued surveillance, rapid response, and vaccination efforts will be critical to preventing a larger outbreak.

The Telegraph highlighted that the DRC’s outbreak, which began in 2018, has already surpassed the 2014 West African epidemic in terms of total cases, and that the current trend could see it become the largest recorded. The analysis underscores the importance of sustained public health interventions to curb the spread of Ebola in the region.

Article source: telegraph.co.uk | Image credit: AP News