An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 11,000 infections, with more than 5,300 deaths, as violence and barriers to health care complicate efforts to contain the disease.

The government reported the figures Wednesday, according to Associated Press reporting published by CBC. The latest health ministry data put the total at 11,042 infections and 5,387 deaths — nearly half the reported cases. It is the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak.

Authorities declared the outbreak in mid-May. Since then, the disease has spread to eight of Congo’s 26 provinces, while the response has faced armed conflict, a health system crisis and poor roads. Mistrust and misinformation have also fuelled violence from residents, adding another obstacle to containment efforts.

The Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak has no known vaccine or treatment, according to the report.

Renewed fighting in Ituri and North Kivu, two major outbreak hotspots, has raised particular concern among health authorities. They are calling for a halt to the violence so health workers can reach sick people without obstruction.

The risks to medical teams extend beyond the fighting. Health facilities and medical professionals have been targeted in communities where residents are skeptical of the virus, and several attacks on health workers have been reported.

Experts have called for stronger efforts to slow and contain the outbreak. The disease has also spread to other African countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, the report said.

The current outbreak ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak recorded. Dozens have occurred since the disease was first discovered in 1976. The largest and deadliest struck West Africa from 2014 to 2016, causing about 28,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths.

Sources