DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 7,000 cases as virus reaches seventh province
Congolese authorities report 7,022 cases and 3,398 deaths in the country’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, which began in Ituri and has spread through conflict-affected regions.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has surpassed 7,000 registered cases, according to figures from Congolese authorities. Officials report 7,022 cases and 3,398 deaths, with 837 people currently isolated or receiving treatment.
The outbreak was officially detected in mid-May in the north-eastern province of Ituri, although experts suspect transmission began weeks earlier. It has since spread through remote areas affected by conflict, where state presence is weak and health infrastructure is limited.
A case confirmed earlier this week in South-Ubangi, in the north-west of the country, made it the seventh affected province. The province borders the Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville.
Most recorded cases remain in Ituri, where Ebola has been detected in schools after students returned from holidays. The development has raised concerns among parents and health workers, while schools have introduced measures including hand-washing with soap, limits of 30 pupils per classroom and warnings against physical contact.
Bundibugyo Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. The source report says no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists for this strain, although potential vaccines and treatments are being tested.
