Why Congo’s Ebola Numbers Dropped Suddenly

Health officials in Congo have adjusted their Ebola case numbers after tests showed many sick people didn’t actually have the virus. The count dropped from over 900 suspected cases to just 116, with 321 confirmed infections and 48 deaths. Some patients had fevers or other infections that looked like early Ebola but weren’t. Six people have recovered so far. The change happened because lab tests ruled out many cases that were mistakenly linked to the outbreak. Earlier, the World Health Organization had guessed at 223 possible deaths, but that number was uncertain since some bodies couldn’t be tested. The outbreak started in May in a conflict-heavy part of Congo, where tracking diseases is already tough.Nearby Uganda also saw changes. After confirming six new cases, the country now has 15 total infections with one death. Health teams are watching 668 people who might have been exposed. But closing the border with Congo, which Uganda did in late May, could make things worse by pushing travelers into unchecked routes. The virus causing this outbreak is the Bundibugyo strain, which hasn’t had a vaccine or cure. Earlier outbreaks of this strain killed 30% to 50% of those infected. Doctors struggled at first because the symptoms matched common illnesses like malaria or flu, and tests didn’t catch it right away. Officials are warning that weak health systems and violence in the region make controlling the spread harder. The World Health Organization called for a pause in fighting to help teams do their work. The U. S. also issued travel warnings for Congo and Uganda.