Congo Ebola Outbreak Surpasses 3,000 Cases, Claims 1,354 Lives

KINSHASA: (Web Desk) – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has surpassed 3,000 confirmed cases, including 1,354 deaths, as infections continue to rise rapidly, health officials reported on Sunday.

The outbreak, which marks the country’s 17th Ebola epidemic, is affecting conflict-hit areas in eastern DR Congo, a region that has faced years of instability and violence.

Official data showed that 3,075 cases have now been recorded across five provinces, with the number of infections increasing by nearly 1,000 in just 10 days after crossing the 2,000-case mark on July 15.

Health authorities said improved surveillance, detection, and testing systems contributed to identifying more cases. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 and is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine or treatment is currently available.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 90 percent of reported cases have emerged in the northeastern province of Ituri, which shares borders with South Sudan and Uganda.

Officials warned that the outbreak could continue for several more months, while healthcare worker strikes over unpaid salaries have affected response operations in some hospitals.

Ebola is a highly infectious disease that spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever. Over the past five decades, the virus has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa.

Scientists are continuing efforts to develop vaccines and treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain. Oxford University announced that the first group of volunteers received an experimental vaccine designed specifically against the virus.

Several other vaccine candidates are being prepared for clinical trials, while two potential treatments are also under development.