Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Surpasses 600 Deaths as Transmission Continues to Spread

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has now claimed 600 lives. The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows a rapid increase in fatalities, just three days after the death toll surpassed 500. A total of 1,759 confirmed cases have been recorded in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, with a case fatality rate of 34 percent. Meanwhile, two people have died in neighbouring Uganda out of a total of 20 confirmed cases. “The outbreak continues to expand, and the true scale is not yet fully known,” said WHO Representative for DR Congo, Anne Ancia. The main concentration of the outbreak is in Ituri province and is fuelled by the rare Bundibugyo species, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. To address this, clinical trials of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir began on 2 July. “Unfortunately, it is still in the expansion phase. We would like to say the situation is stabilising, but honestly we cannot say that yet,” Ancia stated from Bunia, the capital of Ituri. She explained that population movement, insecurity, and a fragile health system are complicating outbreak control. Treatment centres are currently operating at 90 percent capacity. Furthermore, of the 10,000 contacts being monitored, the follow-up rate has only reached 82 percent, whereas WHO targets 95 percent to stop the outbreak. The WHO requires 115 million US dollars, approximately Rp2.08 trillion, but only 32 percent of the funding has been secured. The situation is worsened by clashes between the Congolese military and the M23 armed group in South Kivu. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has urged an immediate halt to the fighting due to its severe impact on civilians and the risk of triggering a refugee exodus to neighbouring countries.