[U] DRC Update: Second Worst Ebola Outbreak In World History -- And It May Last A Year, Yet...

As I've repeatedly said, I'm afraid the news will get worse before it gets better. This may last a full year, from now. But the good news (so far) is that the vaccine is 100 per cent effective, very well-tolerated, and still shows (overall) pretty positive acceptance attitudes, as a social science matter, in the DRC.

The University of Minnesota CIDRAP site's excellent overnight update is here -- and I'll quote a bit:

. . . .The four new cases are in Mandima, Katwa, Butembo, and Kayina. Also, 240 suspected illnesses are under investigation. The new cases push the outbreak total to 936 cases, which includes 871 confirmed and 65 probable infections.

Four more people died from their infections, including two in community settings in Mandima and Butembo, an occurrence known to raise the transmission risk. Two of the deaths occurred in Ebola treatment centers, one in Mabalako and one in Beni.

Since the outbreak began, 591 people have died from Ebola. . . .

It is a little surprising that this -- second only to the 2013-14 outbreak in which more than 11,000 died -- is essentially completely "off the radar", in most US major city newspapers. UPDATED -- Saturday afternoon: Latest weekly chart, from WHO.int:

Onward to a sunny bike ride, along the lake. . . spring comes on faltering little legs, much like a lamb. . . . smile.

नमस्ते