The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 1,502 cases of Ebola, with 473 reported deaths, according to the latest update from the country’s public health authorities. Currently, 628 patients are in isolation or receiving hospital treatment, while 229 individuals have recovered. Additionally, there have been 213 suspected cases, including 63 fatalities.
The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, emphasized the severity of the situation during an online briefing. Janabi highlighted ongoing transmission in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. The current outbreak is identified as the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever documented.
In the affected regions, including mining zones in Ituri, the outbreak is complicated by insecurity and activities of armed groups, hindering effective case identification and contact tracing. WHO experts noted an increased risk of virus transmission due to the frequent movement of people from outside these areas. Meanwhile, a clinical trial has commenced in the DRC to assess potential treatments for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, as no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.
Benjamin Sensasi, a WHO expert in Uganda, reported 20 confirmed cases in the country, with 15 being imported cases and five locally infected individuals detected while in quarantine. Uganda and the DRC have established a collaborative cross-border response mechanism, including a memorandum of understanding to enhance surveillance, screening, and treatment capabilities in border regions.
