The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to steadily grow — creeping closer to becoming the second largest outbreak recorded globally (current second highest is 425 cases). Today, the DRC reported 399 confirmed and probable cases for this outbreak that started Aug. 1.
Why it matters: The country is grappling with the combination of a deadly virus in areas of conflict, multiple other diseases, and attempts to prepare safe locations for upcoming elections next month.
The World Health Organization reported 36 new cases of Ebola in the Congo amid an ongoing outbreak with six cases being reported in children between the ages of two and 17 years old, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: Children are not normally known to catch the disease. The virus typically effects adults, the AP reports, because of more likely exposure to the virus. However, some children come in contact with the virus when infected adults act as care givers. Few cases have been reported in babies but experts believe the disease can be transmitted through breast milk from caregivers. The response to the ongoing outbreak has been slowed by violence in the region in which it‘s occurring.
