The Democratic Republic of Congo’s worsening Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 900 suspected infections, raising fresh concern over the spread of the deadly virus across the conflict-affected country.
Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed on Sunday that intensified surveillance efforts in the DR Congo have so far uncovered over 900 suspected cases, including 101 confirmed infections.
“As surveillance efforts have been scaled up in the DRC Ebola response, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases,” Tedros stated in a post on social media.
The latest figures underscore the growing pressure on health authorities battling the outbreak, which the Congolese government officially declared on May 15.
The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, complicating response efforts in affected communities.
In its previous situation report released on Saturday, DR Congo’s health ministry said the outbreak had claimed 204 lives across three provinces. The ministry reported 867 suspected infections at the time.
Ebola is a severe viral disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The illness can trigger intense bleeding, multiple organ failure and, in many cases, death if not rapidly contained.
The renewed outbreak is unfolding in parts of DR Congo already struggling with insecurity and humanitarian challenges, factors that health experts say could hamper contact tracing, treatment access and disease containment.
Over the past five decades, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have killed more than 15,000 people, making the virus one of the continent’s deadliest recurring public health threats.
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