French medical aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has opened a new Ebola treatment centre in Beni, North Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as health authorities struggle to contain a rapidly spreading outbreak.
North Kivu has recorded 122 confirmed Ebola cases and 87 deaths since the outbreak began in mid-May. The province has the highest fatality rate among the six affected provinces, at 68%, according to government data.
Health workers say a shortage of treatment beds is one of the major challenges facing the response. Africa CDC officials estimate that as many as 2,000 additional beds may be needed to cope with the outbreak.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no known vaccine or specific treatment. Authorities are therefore relying heavily on measures such as identifying contacts, monitoring exposed people and isolating suspected or confirmed patients.
MSF emergency coordinator Albert Stern said that diagnosing patients early and beginning treatment as soon as symptoms appear can significantly improve their chances of survival while reducing transmission within families and communities.
MSF currently has about 1,400 staff working in Congo and operates treatment centres with a combined capacity of around 400 beds.
The latest outbreak is Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak and is described as the second-deadliest ever, with the number of cases and deaths increasing faster than containment efforts.
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