The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 550 confirmed cases, including 101 deaths, with health authorities warning that the disease continues to spread across eastern provinces. The World Health Organization has assessed the risk as very high for Congo and high for Uganda and neighboring countries.
According to health officials, 35 new confirmed cases including 10 deaths were recorded on Sunday alone in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. The outbreak remains on an upward trajectory, with officials cautioning that recent data showing a slight decline in cases may reflect delays in laboratory reporting rather than an actual slowdown in transmission.
Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths and one probable fatal case. All cases in Uganda are epidemiologically linked to the outbreak in Congo, with evidence of both imported infections and secondary transmission among contacts and healthcare workers, according to the World Health Organization.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is a severe and often fatal form of the disease. Health authorities believe the virus originates in fruit bats and can spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals.
The affected provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu have a combined population of nearly 15 million people. The region faces significant challenges including massive internal displacement and population movements toward neighboring countries, which complicate efforts to contain the spread.
As of Sunday, 309 people were in isolation or hospitalized, including 116 confirmed cases and 193 suspected cases. Laboratory capacity remains under pressure in North Kivu, with 183 test results pending due to shortages of reagents.
The contact follow-up rate in the three affected provinces has reached 64.4 percent, remaining well below the target of 95 percent set by health authorities. More than 5,400 contacts are under monitoring, though officials report challenges in reaching all individuals who may have been exposed.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization launched a joint continental Ebola preparedness and response plan, seeking 518 million dollars to support African countries in preparing for, detecting, and responding to the outbreak.
The outbreak was officially declared by the Democratic Republic of Congo Health Ministry on May 15.