KINSHASA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to 933, including 245 deaths, according to Health Minister Roger Kamba.
Kamba said Friday at a press briefing in Bunia, the capital of the eastern Ituri Province, the latest figures represented a case fatality rate of about 26 percent since the start of the outbreak.
A total of 416 patients are currently hospitalized in Ebola treatment centers, while 80 people have recovered and been discharged, he said.
The minister said the rise in reported cases was expected as response teams step up active case finding and as more patients come forward voluntarily instead of remaining in communities.
"The more we update the response, the more cases we will have, because we are now actively looking for them," Kamba said.
He said treatment capacity has been expanded to more than 516 beds, with additional capacity being put in place to absorb cases still in the community and manage suspected cases while laboratory results are pending.
"It is very important that patients are now coming forward themselves," Kamba said, adding that removing infected patients from the community would help authorities control the outbreak over time.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was declared by the DRC authorities on May 15. Ituri has been the epicenter of the outbreak, which has also affected other eastern provinces. ■
