Ebola Deaths in DR Congo Near 500

Kinshasa (ANTARA) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported 1,528 confirmed Ebola cases, including 492 deaths, as the latest outbreak in the country continues to expand.

According to a situation report released on Saturday (4/7) by the DRC public health authorities, a total of 239 patients have recovered, while 628 patients are currently confirmed to be in isolation or receiving hospital treatment. Local authorities have also identified 185 suspected cases.

The report noted that weekly confirmed cases continue to rise, with epidemiological weeks 25 and 26 recording the highest levels so far, each exceeding 300 cases. This indicates that community-level transmission is still ongoing.

The report also listed several key challenges, including community resistance to post-mortem sampling, inadequate capacity in Ebola care centres—particularly in North Kivu Province in eastern DRC—suboptimal contact tracing, delays in laboratory diagnosis, shortages of medical supplies and infection prevention supplies, as well as unsafe conditions and limited access in several affected areas.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on Thursday (2/7) that a clinical trial has begun recruiting patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.