Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have passed 9,000, government data showed on Tuesday, as health teams struggle to slow transmission across several hotspots.
The latest situation report from Congo’s public health institute put confirmed cases at 9,066 and deaths at 4,381, a toll equal to nearly half of confirmed infections. Officials said 88 new confirmed cases were recorded in the latest reporting period and that community transmission remains a concern. A large share of deaths are occurring outside treatment centres, which has alarmed health workers.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, was declared in May. It is the largest and deadliest in Congo’s history, surpassing the 2018-2020 epidemic, and the second-largest on record after the 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which infected about 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000. No vaccine or treatment is approved for the strain.
Sixty-five health zones in seven provinces are now affected, with new hotspots emerging as the virus reaches more communities. Local authorities say confirmed cases represent only about a third of the true total, with many infections going undetected. At least 50 health workers have died.
The spread is beginning to cross borders. Kenya confirmed its first imported case last week, a Kenyan national who travelled from Congo through Uganda and died in Nairobi. Uganda reported 20 cases and two deaths earlier this year and was declared Ebola-free in August.
Responders face deep community mistrust, with many people believing the disease is a pretext for officials to divert money. The outbreak is also unfolding amid fighting between M23 rebels and government forces, which complicates the delivery of medical supplies to remote areas.
The total passed 8,000 on Sept. 28, an increase of more than 1,000 confirmed cases in roughly two weeks.
