Outbreak reaches over 9,000 cases

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 9,000 cases and caused more than 4,000 deaths since early October, according to local health authorities. The DRC officially declared the 17th Ebola outbreak in its history in mid-May, but experts believe the virus may have appeared earlier than that.

High fatality rate reported

According to the Congolese National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the outbreak has infected 9,066 people and caused 4,381 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 48.3 percent. This rate reflects the proportion of infected individuals who have died from the disease.

Ebola's long-term impact in Africa

The Ebola virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids and causes severe hemorrhagic fever, has caused more than 15,000 deaths in Africa over the past 50 years. The worst outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, with nearly 2,300 deaths out of 3,500 reported cases.

Outbreak spreads across multiple provinces

Beginning in Ituri in the northeast, the outbreak has spread to seven provinces in the north and east of the DRC. Health resources are limited in these remote regions, and the presence of armed groups has made movement difficult for medical teams.

Community distrust and challenges

Medical and humanitarian personnel are facing local community distrust, which has led to several incidents in recent months. This distrust complicates efforts to control the outbreak and provide care to affected individuals.

Bundibugyo strain lacks approved treatment

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The first doses of the Ervebo vaccine, proven effective against the Zaire strain — the most common variant in the past — have been administered to frontline volunteers as part of a clinical trial.

New clinical trial planned

A clinical trial on an Ebola vaccine is expected to be launched in the DRC before the end of the month, according to experts from the World Health Organization (WHO). This trial aims to evaluate new vaccine candidates in response to the ongoing outbreak.