Death toll from Ebola outbreak surpasses 1,000

More than 1,000 people have died in an Ebola outbreak centered in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly 2,500 cases have been confirmed.

As of Tuesday, the outbreak had killed 1,001 people and infected 2,494 others, according to a BNO News tally. The latest figures represent an increase of 50 cases and 32 deaths compared to Monday. At least 501 patients have recovered.

Congo has reported 2,473 cases and 999 deaths, accounting for nearly all infections. The outbreak has spread to several provinces but remains concentrated in Ituri.

Uganda has reported 20 cases, including two deaths, while France has recorded one imported case involving a health care worker who became infected in Congo. The patient in France has recovered.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern two days later because of continued transmission in Ituri.

WHO has warned that the true scale of the outbreak could be two to four times larger than official figures indicate.

The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. It can spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people, including those who have died from the disease.