Confirmed cases in the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo have reached 1,003, including 254 deaths, officials said in a statement late Sunday. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, where it was declared on May 15. A total of 100 people have recovered, Congo's Ministry of Health said.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no vaccines or treatment. It was the worst ever in its first month. Officials admit there could be far more cases they still don't know about and that the peak is still ahead.
Contact tracing remains a key issue, with only a 55% coverage rate, the ministry said.
Officials have yet to identify the outbreak's patient zero and still need to trace more than 35,000 people who have come in contact with infected individuals as of last week.