An ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now claimed the lives of 438 individuals, with 1,406 confirmed cases reported to date. This translates to a fatality rate of 31.2%, according to the latest health bulletin from the Institut National de Santé Publique.

a rare strain with no approved treatment

The epidemic, which began on May 15, is driven by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a lesser-known strain for which no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists. Health officials, however, confirm that clinical trials are in the advanced stages of preparation to address this critical gap.

ituri remains the hardest-hit province

The Ituri province continues to bear the brunt of the outbreak, accounting for 91.2% of confirmed cases and 83.6% of all fatalities. While the neighboring North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have also reported cases, the latter has seen no new confirmed infections since May 26.

unexpected spread to kisangani raises alarms

A concerning development emerged in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, located approximately 600 kilometers from the primary outbreak zone. Health authorities confirmed a positive case in a 24-year-old pregnant woman at six months gestation. Investigations revealed that her body had been transported by motorcycle from the Nia Nia health zone in Ituri—a high-risk move, given Ebola’s transmission through bodily fluids, particularly during traditional burial practices.

Additionally, Haut-Uélé Province has reported one new death and one new infection. The infected individual reportedly traveled from the Nia Nia health zone and is currently being sought by health teams for contact tracing and isolation.

authorities classify cases as ‘imported’ but remain vigilant

Despite these concerning developments, health officials maintain that only three provinces—Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu—are officially affected by the outbreak. Cases detected in Tshopo and Haut-Uélé are being treated as imported infections, originating from Ituri. Health teams have identified and relocated several high-risk contacts to Ituri for medical monitoring.

ebola’s deadly legacy in the region

Transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, Ebola has devastated communities across Africa over the past five decades, resulting in over 15,000 deaths. In the DRC alone, the deadliest outbreak on record claimed nearly 2,300 lives between 2018 and 2020.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter