Kinshasa, DRC: The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the fastest-growing in the virus’s recorded history, with health authorities reporting 3,360 confirmed cases and 1,487 deaths.
The outbreak has spread across five eastern provinces, with an estimated case fatality rate of 45 percent, according to Congolese health officials. Ongoing conflict and insecurity in several affected regions continue to hamper response efforts and complicate disease control measures.
The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has surpassed the pace of the country’s previous 16 Ebola outbreaks. The number of confirmed infections is now approaching the 2018–2020 outbreak, which infected 3,470 people, making it the country’s largest Ebola epidemic to date.
Health officials say the virus continues to spread, particularly in the Bunia and Rwampara health zones, where authorities are recording 100 to 150 new confirmed cases each week. Experts have warned that it remains difficult to determine when the outbreak will reach its peak.
Authorities have expanded containment measures by strengthening community surveillance, establishing more than 20 Ebola treatment centres, and setting up additional laboratories to speed up testing and diagnosis. Public health officials have also urged people to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms appear to improve early detection and reduce transmission.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that the delayed detection allowed the virus to spread before response measures were fully implemented, making containment more challenging.
Meanwhile, clinical trials for a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain began in early July. As of July 15, around 20 participants had been enrolled in the trials, which are expected to continue for up to four months. There is currently no approved standard vaccine or treatment specifically for this strain.
Regional cooperation has also intensified, with Uganda, which recently declared its Ebola outbreak over, deploying health experts to assist Congolese authorities, particularly in border areas including Tchomia and Kasenyi, to strengthen surveillance and response efforts.
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