Key facts
- Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached 782.
- 181 deaths have been recorded among confirmed cases.
- The outbreak has spread to two new health zones: Nia-Nia in Ituri and Mabalako in North Kivu.
- The virus is now present in 20 health zones in Ituri, 10 in North Kivu, and one in South Kivu.
- The epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was declared on May 15.
- The current fatality rate of the outbreak is 23%.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 782, with 181 deaths recorded, according to the Congolese Ministry of Health. The outbreak, which began on May 15 and is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has now spread to two new health zones, Nia-Nia in Ituri and Mabalako in North Kivu. This brings the total number of affected health zones to 20 in Ituri, 10 in North Kivu, and one in South Kivu. The virus has also crossed the border into Uganda.
The current fatality rate for the outbreak stands at 23%, with 56 people having recovered. Contact tracing coverage has decreased to 56%, making containment efforts more challenging. The ongoing conflict in Ituri province has displaced nearly a million people, complicating efforts to track contacts due to frequent movement and difficult terrain. Attacks on health workers and skepticism among some locals also pose significant challenges to stopping the epidemic.