Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have surpassed 1,800, with the virus spreading to a fourth province in the northeastern region, according to official data released on Saturday. The total tally reached 1,830, including 648 deaths, since the outbreak was declared on May 15, as per the health ministry's situation update. Currently, 780 patients are under treatment, while 284 people have recovered.
Outbreak Concentrated in Three Provinces
The outbreak has been primarily concentrated in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The health ministry stated that the response to Ebola continues in these three provinces with strengthened national coordination, epidemiological surveillance, and community mobilization.
Spread to Haut-Uele Province
On Friday, authorities reported that the outbreak had spread to a new province, Haut-Uele, in northeastern Congo after seven fatal cases were confirmed in the Wamba health zone. This marks the fourth province affected by the outbreak.
Financial and Technical Support
Donors and partners have pledged $910 million to support the Ebola response in Congo and Uganda, where 20 cases have been reported. On Friday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced it has been strengthening the Ebola response in Congo by deploying multidisciplinary expert teams to priority health zones, which account for 83% of cases, as part of a decentralized response approach.
Africa CDC Director's Remarks
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized that the current Ebola outbreak in Congo serves as a stark reminder that "every moment counts and every delay costs lives." He stated, "That is why Africa’s ability to detect, respond, and contain outbreaks must be built where health threats emerge - in communities, through trusted health workers, strong surveillance systems, and rapid access to financing."
WHO Declaration
On May 17, two days after the outbreak was declared, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
