Ebola in DRC Congo has been confirmed to be the cause of death in 42 individuals. In addition, over 245 people who had been in close contact with Ebola infected victims are currently under close monitoring. This is the seventh recorded Ebola outbreak since the disease had been identified in the year 1976. Is the Ebola in DRC Congo outbreak getting out of hand?

The Democratic Republic of Congo has raised the death toll to 42 with the Ebola in DRC Congo getting difficult to contain. This marks the second outbreak this year in Africa alone. According to health minister Felix Kabange, the 42 individuals confirmed to have died from the Ebola virus include 8 health workers. Back in September, authorities confirmed that 32 people had died of Ebola in DRC Congo.

Seventy cases of the Ebola outbreak had been recorded northwest of Kinshasa and in close proximity to the town of Boende. The mortality rate of the Ebola in DRC Congo has risen to 60 percent. Despite this being the seventh Ebola outbreak in Africa since 1976, the World Health Organization and Kinshasa authorities state that the outbreak is unrelated to the outbreak in West Africa that has killed over 3,000 people this year alone.

In addition to the 42 confirmed Ebola infected victims, 245 people who had been in close contact with the Ebola infected individuals are currently under monitoring given the incubation period for the Ebola virus is at least three weeks. Thirty cases of Ebola had been confirmed wherein 16 people died. Twelve have been successfully healed while two remain in isolation.

The last recorded case of Ebola outbreak in Congo was confirmed by the minister last Sept. 24. Authorities in Congo state that the Ebola in DRC Congo outbreak is "on its way to being controlled."