The death toll from the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 500, according to a report released Sunday by the country's health authorities.
According to the report, the country has recorded 1,561 confirmed cases, including 506 deaths. A total of 254 patients have recovered, while 628 confirmed patients are currently in isolation or hospitalization.
Authorities also identified 354 suspected cases, including 110 deaths.
The report said the outbreak has so far affected 36 health zones in three provinces. Weekly confirmed cases have continued to rise, with epidemiological weeks 25 and 26 representing the highest levels recorded since the start of the outbreak, each exceeding 300 confirmed cases, indicating continued community transmission.
The World Health Organization said Thursday that a clinical trial had begun enrolling patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Clinical trials have begun at the CME Ebola treatment center in the Rwampara health zone in Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, according to the report.
Ebola deaths in DR Congo top 500 amid continued community transmission
Direct flights operated by Spring Airlines between Taiwan's Kaohsiung and Ningbo of Zhejiang Province resumed on Saturday, marking the latest restoration of cross-Strait air services. This route will operate twice a week, with flights scheduled every Tuesday and Saturday.
Spring Airlines said passengers traveling between the two cities previously had to make transfers, with one-way journeys usually taking more than five hours. With the resumption of direct flights, travel time has been shortened to around two hours, greatly improving travel efficiency.
Several mainland airlines have recently resumed direct cross-Strait routes. China Eastern Airlines resumed direct flights between Taichung and Chengdu on July 1, while Shandong Airlines is expected to resume direct flights between Taichung and Qingdao on July 23.
China Eastern said the first resumed flight from Taichung to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province, had carried 163 passengers. Local tourism operators said that, thanks to the restoration of direct flights, bookings for tours from Taichung to Sichuan are already extended several months ahead.
On April 12, the Chinese mainland rolled out a package of 10 policies and measures, spanning inter-party communication, infrastructure, travel, trade and culture, aimed at boosting exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.
Direct flights between Kaohsiung, Ningbo resume
